Even as his administration indicated a willingness to hand over the keys to leftist challenger Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, thousands of Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro’s supporters called on the military Wednesday (local time) to retain the far-right leader in power.
Outside the Eastern Military Command in Rio de Janeiro, one of the army’s eight regional headquarters, a group of the president’s supporters gathered in the rain. Many of them raised their clenched fists in the air while waving the green, yellow, and blue flag of Brazil and singing the national anthem.
“Armed forces, save Brazil,” several shouted. and “The people, united, shall never be overcome!”
Despite a Supreme Court order to remove them, truck drivers who have been erecting barricades across the nation for days to protest Bolsonaro’s loss continued to be active.
The demonstrations took place as the win of da Silva was acknowledged internationally and Bolsonaro was advised to accept the election results by the Brazilian Supreme Court.
Cabinet officials, incoming governors, and religious leaders who had been vociferous Bolsonaro supporters are suddenly making overtures to the new leftist administration.
The military has taken on an ample role under Bolsonaro, but has remained silent in the month since the first round of the election, a sign it is likely distancing itself from the ex-army captain, experts told The Associated Press.
According to Eduardo Munhoz Svartman, head of the Brazilian Association for Defence Studies, “in a democracy, the armed forces do not have a say in the political process.” This stillness is a good thing.
Bolsonaro, who received 49 votes, fell short against da Silva in a close race. 50 votes to 1% for da Silva. 9%. Since Brazil’s return to democracy in 1985, it was the closest presidential contest ever, and Bolsonaro lost for the first time in his 34-year political career.
After constantly casting doubt on the country’s electoral system prior to the election, the outgoing president took nearly two days to address the public. It was also rumoured that he could challenge the outcome.
In a speech at the presidential residence lasting less than two minutes on Tuesday (local time), he stopped short of conceding to da Silva, but said he would continue to obey the constitution.
He also endorsed peaceful protests carried out by his supporters.
Immediately afterwards, his chief of staff told reporters Bolsonaro had authorised him to begin the process of handing over power, while later in the day the president reportedly told members of the Supreme Court that his election battle against da Silva had come to an end.
“It is over.
Justice Luiz Edson Fachin of the Supreme Court, who had a private meeting with the conservative leader, reported that he said, “So let’s look ahead.” In a video that was released by Brazilian news organisations, Fachin made his comments.
Bolsonaro openly admires former US President Donald Trump, and both men have asserted that computerised voting machines are vulnerable to fraud. Even after being asked by the electoral court to do so, he still hasn’t offered any evidence.
In order to protest the election’s decision, truckers who favour the president have built hundreds of blockades across the nation. Many of his followers are also sceptical of the results. 630 blockades had been taken down, according to highway police, but more over 150 remained.
Protesters in Sao Paulo state burned tyres at a barrier. Huge lines of cars could be seen snaking along the highway.
An Associated Press correspondent witnessed truck drivers knelt in front of police officers in the Rio de Janeiro state area of Itaborai and refused to leave.
Rodrigo Garcia, the governor of Sao Paulo, declared on Tuesday (local time) that the time for dialogue was gone and that the use of force to remove the obstacles was not out of the question.
But Bolsonaro supporters persisted in their opposition.
On social media, people shared demands for the military to take to the streets or for the dissolution of Congress and the Supreme Court in order for the president to continue in power.
Supporters of Bolsonaro ask the military to maintain him in power in Brazil.
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