SERGIO LIMA / AFP
(Photo of Bolsonaro supporters protesting outside military commandos in Brasilia on November 2, 2022)
BRAZIL – Thousands of Brazilian protesters demanded an intervention by the army after Jair Bolsonaro’s electoral defeat in front of military commandos in São Paulo, Brasília and Rio this Wednesday, November 2. As of Wednesday, protesters were still blocking roads in more than half of Brazil’s states, but roadblocks were fewer than the previous day.
These protests come the day after outgoing far-right President Jair Bolsonaro’s speech. He broke a heavy two-day silence to say he would “respect” the constitution and gave the green light to transition with his left-wing successor, Lula – while delivering an ambiguous message to his supporters, who have been protesting since Monday.
@realpfigueiredo Rio de Janeiro, 02/11/22 https://t.co/SYynziNTpv
— Luciana Cruz (@lucianaafcruz)
Thousands of Bolsonarians demonstrated in São Paulo late Wednesday morning in front of the military command of the south-east and called for “immediate federal intervention” for the army to intervene, an AFP journalist noted.
Atos anti-democratic: Bolsonaristas protestam frente ao Comando Militar, na Central Manifestantes em ato golpi… https://t.co/24judVNVHy
—Jornal O Globo (@JornalOGlobo)
“Anti-democratic acts: the Bolsonarists demonstrate in front of the Army Ministry. Demonstrators question Lula’s choice and call for military intervention. “, explains the media O Globo.
“We demand federal intervention”
A similar demonstration outside the army headquarters in Brasília brought together thousands of protesters, according to an AFP photographer.
Same scenario in Rio de Janeiro, where, according to videos from the Brazilian press, demonstrators called for the intervention of the army and chanted “Lula, thief, your place is in prison” in front of the military commando. In São Paulo, Brazil’s largest metropolis, the tide of demonstrators continued to grow on this national holiday.
Hoje, no dia de finados, centenas de zumbis levantaram de seus túmulos para suplicar diante do Ministério do Exérci… https://t.co/Rr54qTyfrO
—Christian Lynch (@CECLynch)
“Today, on All Saints’ Day, hundreds of zombies emerged from their graves to plead before the Army Ministry for the resurrection of a government murdered by the Brazilian people at the ballot box. » jokes one user.
“We are demanding federal intervention because we are demanding freedom,” Angela Cosac, a 70-year-old protester, told AFP. “We cannot accept being ruled by a thief,” she said, referring to Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva’s corruption convictions, which the Supreme Court eventually overturned or rejected.
“Outrage” and “Injustice”
The number of roadblocks nevertheless fell on Wednesday: the Federal Road Police (PRF) announced after Bolsonaro’s speech on Tuesday that they had registered more than 167 roadblocks in the huge country, compared to 271 the previous day. The dams affected about 17 states in the country, almost all 27 states as of Tuesday.
“Peaceful demonstrations will always be welcome, but we cannot use the methods of the left (…) that prevent freedom of movement,” President Bolsonaro said on Tuesday. However, he claimed these demonstrations were “the result of outrage and a sense of injustice at the way the electoral process was conducted”.
In São Paulo, a group of several dozen protesters authorized single-lane, two-way traffic on the main thoroughfare that connects this state, Brazil’s economic lung, with the country’s central west. But at the end of the morning the police tried to clear this strategic axis.
The trucks honked their horns and in the footsteps of the protesters, dressed in the popular yellow and green Bolsonarist T-shirt, waved banners in front of the vehicles that managed to pass, according to images from local television.
The PRF added that it had dispersed about 563 protests since Monday. Especially in the South, which voted notably for Jair Bolsonaro, police had to use tear gas to clear roadblocks on Tuesday.
“Risks of bottlenecks and fuel shortages”
Bolsonaro’s speech was interpreted in far-right social media as encouragement to continue the movement. “The dream lives on,” said a message on Telegram on Tuesday. “Many people will come to the streets tomorrow,” we read, referring to a call to demonstrate especially in the afternoon on Avenida Paulista in the heart of São Paulo.
Roadblocks have created supply difficulties in Brazil, which relies almost entirely on road transport to transport goods and food.
The National Confederation of Industry warned on Tuesday of “risk of shortages and fuel shortages” if roadblocks are not lifted quickly.
For its part, the G1 information site estimates that 70% of supermarkets are already experiencing shortages of certain products.
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