The one signal of protest got here from Bolsonaro-supporting truckers who on Sunday began blocking roads throughout the nation. By Monday night time, the Federal Freeway Police reported 236 incidents in 18 states, up from 136 three hours previous to that.
Bolsonaro’s rival, former president and left-leaning ex-union chief Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva gained the runoff Sunday night time with 50.9% of the votes, to Bolsonaro’s 49.1%. It was the closest election since Brazil’s return to democracy in 1985.
Ricardo Barros, Bolsonaro’s whip within the Decrease Home, advised The Related Press by cellphone that he was with the president Monday and that Bolsonaro was “nonetheless deciding” whether or not to talk about the election’s outcomes.
Very similar to former U.S. President Donald Trump, whom Bolsonaro admires, the outgoing Brazilian chief has repeatedly questioned the reliability of the nation’s digital voting system. At one level he stated he possessed proof of fraud, although he offered no proof. And as not too long ago as final month, he remarked that if he didn’t win within the election’s first spherical, one thing was “irregular” — at the same time as most polls confirmed him trailing.
As time passes and an growing variety of worldwide leaders publicly acknowledge da Silva’s victory, the president’s room for dispute is dwindling, specialists advised The Related Press.
A few of Bolsonaro’s closest allies indicated the identical.
“The desire of the bulk seen on ballots shall by no means be contested,” Decrease Home Speaker Arthur Lira advised reporters Sunday.
Different Bolsonaro supporters who publicly acknowledged da Silva’s win embody Sao Paulo governor-elect Tarcísio de Freitas and Senator-elect Damares Alves, each of whom served as ministers beneath Bolsonaro, and Decrease Home whip Barros. Evangelical pastor Silas Malafaia, who has been a strident Bolsonaro supporter, known as for God to bestow his “blessing” on da Silva.
“He should have a number of plans for the right way to contest the outcomes of the polls; the query is whether or not he has the political help to go forward with these plans,” stated Paulo Calmon, a political science professor on the College of Brasilia. “He gained’t have the help of Sao Paulo’s governor, of the Decrease Home, Senate, and he should face opposition from everybody.”
Calmon added that Bolsonaro had not too long ago stated throughout an interview final month that he would settle for the outcome even when he misplaced, however that congratulating da Silva would harm his reputation amongst his most radical base.