Protestors have taken to the streets in Brazil, blocking highways and disrupting daily life, to ask for a military intervention to reverse the results of the latest presidential election. The protestors want the military to ensure that incumbent Jair Bolsnaro continues to hold office after being narrowly defeated by Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva.
Lula defeated Bolsonaro in the second round of an intense presidential election, grabbing 50.9% of the vote against the latter’s 49.1%.
“We are ready to resume the fight against hunger and inequality…” Lula had tweeted after his win.
Bolosonaro who has held office since 2019 refused to publicly acknowledge defeat, although reports have started emerging that he has told his team to begin preparation for a transfer of power. “It is over,” he was reported to have told judges of the Supreme Court.
Not acknowledging defeat openly might be a key factor in firing up protestors who started blocking highways with containers throughout the country. “Armed forces, save Brazil!” some chanted. Meanwhile, law enforcement agencies are scrambling to restore highways so daily life is not disrupted.
Three days after protests began, Bolsonaro asked protestors to remove blockages on major highways so that transportation and commercial activities could resume. The widespread disruption being caused to people’s lives, Bolsonaro said, raised questions on the justifiability of the protest. He did add that people could continue to find other ways to protest if it did not affect people’s basic right of movement.
Brazil’s national health agency and oil regulator had raised alarm over the possibility of major shortages as a result of highway blockages. Supplies to supermarkets were also affected.
Although over 700 points have been cleared since the protests began, authorities said there were still over 100 places where highways were disrupted. President Bolsonaro described the task of clearing highways as ‘enormous’.
Bolsonaro, a former army captain, took up Brazil’s presidency promising a conservative agenda including dismantling protections for the Amazon Rainforest. Meanwhile, Lula was sent to prison on a bribery charge in 2017 and was only released in 2022. His Workers’ Party campaigns on a promise to end social inequality.
The first round of the election ended after none of the 11 candidates could get a clear majority. In the second round, Lula managed to edge out Bolsonaro for the win.
“There are not two Brazils. We are one country, one people, and one great nation,” Lula said in his victory speech.
Brazil is no stranger to military intervention. A coup in 1964 removed President João ‘Jango’ Goulart. Brazil would not have another left-wing president until Lula took office in 2003. If a transition happens smoothly, he will once again take office on January 1.
