Bolsonaro overreacts, forgets defeat

Brasilia. Without mentioning the elected president, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, President Jair Bolsonaro broke his two-day silence on Tuesday, after the narrow defeat in the presidential ballot in Brazil, and authorized the transition with the new team promising to “comply” with the Constitution. .

Bolsonaro spoke for just over two minutes at the Palacio de la Alvorada, the official residence, where he began by referring to the road blockades by his followers, which have paralyzed routes throughout the country against the victory of the former leftist president.

“The popular movements are the result of indignation and the feeling of injustice for how the electoral process took place,” he began, surrounded by some ministers from his cabinet.

“As president of the Republic and citizen, I will continue to comply with all the commandments of our Constitution,” he added.

The far-right assured that, despite the defeat, “the right really emerged in the country,” and highlighted the “robust” representation in Congress achieved in the October 2 elections.

The president boasted of having “overcome a pandemic and the consequences of a war”, having “the entire system against”.

Authorize transition

Bolsonaro thanked the 58 million Brazilians who voted for him in the ballot last Sunday.

After his speech, his chief of staff, Ciro Nogueira, reported that the president “authorized” the beginning of the “transition process” with the government of Lula’s Workers’ Party (PT).

The 67-year-old leader said goodbye, saying he was “honored” to be in a leadership position, and without answering questions.

“It is an honor to be the leader of millions who defend economic freedom, religious freedom, freedom of opinion, honesty and the green and yellow colors of our flag,” he concluded. Bolsonaro kept the country in suspense for two days by remaining silent after losing in the ballot (49.1% of the votes against 50.9% for Lula).

For months, Bolsonaro questioned the electronic voting system without evidence, raising fears that he would not accept defeat.