Bolsonaro asks for highway clearance and says they are not legitimate demonstrations

President Jair Bolsonaro (PL) published a video in which he asks his supporters to clear roads that are obstructed in protest against the victory of Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva (PT) in this year’s elections.

The representative says that other demonstrations, in squares and public places, are “of the democratic game” and does not comment on the coup-like content of the protests.

The president urges supporters not to “think badly” of him because of the request, and criticizes the blockades. “I want to appeal to you: clear the highways, this is not, in my opinion, part of these legitimate demonstrations. We are not going to lose our legitimacy here,” he says.

The chief executive says he “is just as upset and just as sad” as his supporters, but that he needs to “keep his head straight”.

“But there is something that is not legal: the closing of highways in Brazil harms people’s right to come and go, it is there in our Constitution and we have always been within the four lines”, he says.

Bolsonaro says it is necessary to “respect the rights of other people who are moving” and cites that obstructions cause “damage to our economy”.

“I know that the economy is important, maybe you are giving importance to other things now”, he says.

The representative says that the Federal Highway Police works “from the first moment” to free the highways, but that there are “many points and the difficulties are enormous”.

According to the president, the demonstrations are spontaneous and he says they are legitimate, as long as people do not have their right to come and go affected. “Protest otherwise, in other places, that this is very welcome, it’s part of our democracy,” he says.

Bolsonaro says that he worked throughout his term to reinforce “love of the country” and “defence of the family”: “let’s not throw it away”.

And he adds: “Let’s do what has to be done, I’m with you and I’m sure you’re with me. The request is highways, let’s clear them for the good of the nation and so that we can continue fighting for democracy and freedom”, says.

He wrote in quotation marks and without attributing to any author the phrase “don’t stop, don’t rush, don’t go back”. “Speaking up anywhere is constitutional and part of our democracy,” he said.

According to the PRF, on Tuesday night, the number of states with obstructed roads dropped to 13. The movement weakened during the holiday, reaching six states less than on Tuesday night (1st).

São Paulo, Rio Grande do Sul, Ceará, Rio de Janeiro, Pernambuco and Bahia cleared all highways. In Rio Grande do Sul, the PRF even demobilized the protesters throughout the day, but there are already new points of protest.

Federal deputy Eduardo Bolsonaro (PL-SP) published the video of the chief executive and stated that the message is directed only to those who are obstructing roads.

Read Bolsonaro’s full speech

Brazilians who are protesting all over Brazil, I know you are upset, you are sad, you expected something else, I too. I’m just as upset, as sad as you are. But we have to keep our heads straight.

Protests and demonstrations are very welcome, they are part of the democratic game. And, over the years, much of this was done by Brazil, in Esplanada, Copacabana, Paulista, among many, many other places. Now, there’s something that’s not cool. The closing of highways in Brazil harms people’s right to come and go. It’s there in our Constitution. And we’ve always been within those four lines. So you have to respect the rights of other people who are moving, in addition to damage to our economy.

I know the economy is important, right? You’re maybe giving more importance to other things now, it’s legit. So I want to appeal to you: clear the highways. This is not part of, in my view, these legitimate manifestations. We are not going to lose our legitimacy here.

Other demonstrations you are doing all over Brazil, in squares. It is, I repeat, part of the democratic game. Feel free. And let me be clear: you are spontaneously manifesting.

We put our Federal Highway Police from the first moment to clear highways throughout Brazil. And they’ve been trying to unblock it, but there are many points, and the difficulties are enormous.

Mischief, everyone is having with these highways closed. The appeal I make to you: clear the highways, protest otherwise, in other places, that this is very welcome, is part of our democracy.

Please don’t think badly of me. I want the best for you. During all that time, at the head of the Presidency, I collaborated to revive the patriotic feeling, the love for the country, for our green and yellow colors, defense of the family, the defense of freedom. Let’s not throw this away. Let’s do what has to be done. I’m with you. And I’m sure you are with me.

The request is: highways. Let’s clear them for the good of our nation and so that we can keep fighting for democracy and freedom. Thank you very much to all of you. God bless our Brazil.