Bolsonaro’s statement: I do not accept defeat but I will respect the Constitution

Brazil’s far-right former prime minister Jair Bolsonaro today avoided acknowledging his presidential election defeat by center-left Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, in his first public statement since the results were announced.

He was content to emphasize that the Constitution will be respected, while commenting that the demonstrations that took place after the election contest were the result of “the indignation and the feeling of injustice” of many voters.

His chief of staff, Ciro Nogueira, who took the floor after Bolsonaro’s brief speech at the presidential palace, announced that he would begin the transfer of power to the Lula government.

Earlier, the outgoing government’s communications minister, Fabio Faria, said Bolsonaro was due to meet with Supreme Court judges ahead of his much-anticipated speech.

He emphasized, however, that Bolsonaro will not dispute the results.

Barricade

Meanwhile, his supporters are mounting more roadblocks in many parts of the country, with some even calling for a military coup to prevent Lula from returning to the presidency.

The Federal Highway Police (PRF) announced that truck drivers have blocked – fully or partially – highways at 271 points in the country, in 23 of the 26 states, as part of protests against Lula’s victory.

“Not to Lula!” was the slogan on a banner on a bridge in Sao Paulo, where highways have also been blocked, notably the one connecting the city to Rio de Janeiro.

Santa Catarina in southern Brazil, where far-right Bolsonaro won almost 70% of the vote, is the state with the highest number of blocked roads.

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