As Brazil anxiously waited for the head of state to concede defeat, Bolsonarian truckers blocked highways in at least 16 states, saying they did not accept
the election of Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva.
In Brasilia, security has been reinforced preventively
near the Place des Trois Pouvoirs, which brings together the Presidential Palace, the Supreme Court and the Parliament, in anticipation of the possible arrival of pro-Bolsonaro demonstrators.
After losing on Sunday by a narrow margin (50.9% against 49.1%), the incumbent head of state – until the transfer of power on January 1 – had isolated himself in his official residence in Alvorada, in Brasília.
He went Monday morning to the Planalto Palace, the seat of the presidency, then returned in the afternoon to his residence, without making the slightest statement, noted a photographer from theAFP.
This heavy silence, of which Lula had said to be worried
Sunday evening, reminded many Brazilians that Jair Bolsonaro had repeatedly threatened not to recognize the verdict of the polls if he lost.
Already anticipating difficulties, Lula had hoped on Sunday that the government [sortant] be civilized
and understand thatit is necessary to make a good transfer of power
.
This climate of uncertainty was reflected in the volatility of the Sao Paulo Stock Exchange, the first financial center in Latin America, which, after having opened in the red, closed on an increase of 1.36%, after many variations. during the session.
Road blockages
Bolsonaro was taken from his throne by force, and we will put him back in power with the force that is ours, we, the group of truckers
said to theAFP Ezequias, a 40-year-old truck driver who only wanted to give his first name.
He took part on Monday in blocking the highway between Rio de Janeiro and Sao Paulo, the economic capital, in Barra Mansa, in the southeast, without it being possible to know whether the movement was spontaneous or coordinated.
Brazilian truckers block a highway in the metropolitan area of Florianopolis, October 31, 2022, to protest the defeat of Jair Bolsonaro in the second round of the presidential election the day before.
Photo : afp via getty images / Anderson Coelho
Barrages of burning tires or vehicles were installed on roads in Mato Grosso, in the center-west, announced West Route Concessionairethe manager of a highway in this agricultural state which votes Bolsonaro, but also the roads of Parana and Santa Catarina, Bolsonarist strongholds in the south of the country.
While the risk of short-term protests is high, that of a serious institutional crisis is very low.
however, estimated the consultants of Eurasia Group.
Protection of the Amazon
Lula’s victory was hailed around the world by an avalanche of messages from foreign leaders, from Washington, London, Paris, Beijing, Moscow, New Delhi or Buenos Aires, to the European Commission, many of whom expressed their impatience to renew solid and productive relations with Brasilia, after four years of diplomatic isolation under Jair Bolsonaro.
The President-elect also received in Sao Paulo the visit of the Argentine President Alberto Fernandez, a longtime ally, who promised to working together to strengthen relationships
between the two countries.
Argentine President Alberto Fernandez is a longtime ally of President-elect Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva.
Photo : Associated Press / Andre Penner
Lula also spoke on the phone with French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz.
Many leaders took the opportunity to remind Lula how much the issue of protecting the Amazon, where deforestation has broken records since 2019, was a priority for the future of the planet.
Main funder for the protection of the largest tropical forest in the world, Norway has announced the release of its funding suspended since 2019.
Brazil is ready to regain its leadership in the fight against the climate crisis […]. Brazil and the planet need a living Amazon
had launched Lula Sunday evening, in his victory speech.
Lula’s government will have to restore resources to organizations monitoring deforestation in the Amazon, very weakened by the cuts in credits, the dismemberments and the total impunity of all kinds of traffickers.