As Brazil’s presidential election concluded, incumbent Jair Bolsonaro promised to uphold the Constitution and implicitly denounced the Supreme Court’s bias.
“I have always been accused of being anti-democratic, but I have never disregarded the Constitution, unlike my accusers,” Bolsonaro said, Fox News reported. “I have never advocated for policing the media or social media. I will continue to uphold the Constitution.”
While endorsing peaceful demonstrations, he cautioned his followers against hasty action.
“Our methods cannot be those of the left, which have always harmed the population, such as invasion or destruction of private property, and restriction of the right to come and go,” he said.
This message was allegedly a request to his ardent trucker supporters to end their roadblocks, which have slowed nationwide transit.
Tens of thousands of angry, flag-waving Brazilians massed outside military bases Wednesday. They said they were there to save Brazil’s democracy from a rigged election, and the armed forces must take over the government. It is a demand in a country that had a military dictatorship until 1985 and another bizarre twist after Brazil’s polarizing elections, the New York Times reported.
A tense nation watched as incumbent Bolsonaro disappeared after a close presidential election on Sunday. Former President Lula da Silva won with 50.9% to Bolsonaro’s 49.1%.
A small crowd of Bolsonaro supporters gathered outside Brasilia’s Palacio da Alvorada, the country’s White House, in the hope of hearing him speak, according to Fox News.
It did not happen.
Instead, Michelle Bolsonaro tweeted a Psalm, but her husband has yet to make any public statement, Fox News reported.
Protests blocked important highways in Sao Paulo, Goias, and Mato Grosso. Truckers have long been Bolsonaro’s core supporters.
Protests caused delays and cancellations at Guarulhos Airport in Sao Paulo’s northeastern suburbs.
A Supreme Court order to clear the roads and fine offenders for impeding transportation and infrastructure led to 300 roadblocks by Monday night in 20 of Brazil’s 26 states, with more continuing Tuesday.
Bolsonaro supporters accused the Supreme Court and the establishment of restoring Lula to power, according to Fox News.
Nearly 48 hours after the official election results were announced, politicians speculated about Bolsonaro’s strategy.
Few think a military coup or democratic breakdown is likely. Jair Bolsonaro is expected to acknowledge the election result and accuse the Supreme Court of interfering in the process.
Despite Sunday’s loss, the Bolsonaro movement will likely continue to exert political influence. Bolsonaro’s passionate campaign nearly won the south, but he couldn’t defeat Lula’s Northeast organization, the Workers Party’s stronghold.
Bolsonaro-aligned governments control the three largest states.
Former foreign minister Ernesto Araujo argued that Bolsonaro entrusted professional politicians to manage his campaign, but they failed due to ineptitude or dishonesty. Bolsonaro’s campaign theme was “not being Lula,” but he failed to make specific recommendations, Fox News reported.
Araujo said these politicians are undermining Bolsonaro’s charisma. “He leaned more on conservative principles before the first round of voting, which ignited his base and nearly won, but it was too late,” he said.
