In protest at the outcome of Brazil’s presidential election, supporters of Jair Bolsonaro, 67, who was voted out of office, have erected more than 200 roadblocks in the South American country. Many of the protesters were truck drivers, Brazilian newspaper “Folha de S. Paulo” reported Monday evening (local time), citing police. For example, the blockades affected important traffic axes such as an urban highway in the economic metropolis and a connecting road between Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo.
Miles of traffic jams resulted, severely hampering Brazilians’ progress in the run-up to All Souls’ Day on Wednesday. According to the “Folha”, some protesters hung Brazilian flags on their trucks and some also insulted elected president Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva (77). The feared outbreaks of violence failed to materialize. However, according to “Folha”, there were riots. The president of the Supreme Court ordered the police to end the blockades.
After ousted Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro went into hiding, the team led by election winner Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva is preparing for a change of government without the help of the incumbent head of state. “I hope normality will prevail in the interest of Brazil and the Brazilian people. If the president, if Jair Bolsonaro doesn’t want to be there, okay,” said Lula’s Workers’ Party (PT) leader and head of the election campaign, Gleisi. Hoffmann, Monday (local time) on the Globo News TV station. “The change of government is regulated by law. This will allow us to complete the transfer of power regardless of the president’s involvement.” Lula will take office on January 1, 2023.
Bolsonaro remains hidden
Left-wing ex-president Lula (2003-2010) narrowly won the second round for the presidency in Latin America’s largest country. He received 50.9 percent of the vote on Sunday, the Electoral Office in Brasília announced. The right-wing incumbent Bolsonaro got 49.1 percent.
Bolsonaro then went underground and had not commented 24 hours after the results were announced. The truckers who support him are a powerful profession in Brazil because a large part of the freight transport in the country is by road.
Several of Bolsonaro’s allies have already recognized Lula as the winner. According to media reports, several ministers and advisers tried to convince Bolsonaro to admit defeat on Monday. He spent the morning at his residence in Brasilia and then drove to the president’s official residence for talks. (SDA/kes)