Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro authorized the transition with Lula da Silva’s team on Tuesday and promised to “comply” with the Constitution, in his first statement after losing the elections against the leftist on Sunday, whom he did not even mention.
Source: AFP
“As President of the Republic and citizen, I will continue to comply with all the commandments of our Constitution,” said the far-right in a brief speech at the official Alvorada residence in Brasilia.
In his pronouncement, he did not directly refer to his defeat or mention his rival, former president Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva (2003-2010).
The extreme right-wing president “authorized” the start of “transition process” with Lula’s team, his chief of staff, Ciro Nogueira, said after the speech.
Bolsonaro kept the country on edge for two days by keeping silent after his defeat in the ballot against Lula, who obtained 50.9% of the votes against 49.1%.
The victory of the former trade unionist was recognized by the international community and various allies of the government.
For months, Bolsonaro, 67, questioned without evidence the electronic voting system, sparking fears that he would not accept defeat.
– Protests must be “peaceful” –
His statement coincides with second day of roadblocks by truckers and Bolsonaro protesters throughout the country to protest against the election result.
The police dispersed more than 300 acts in the last hours, although there were still 267 active blockade points, according to the balance of the authorities on Tuesday morning.
Related note: Bolsonaro supporters create chaos after losing elections
Bolsonaro said in this regard that the protests must be “peaceful”.
“Peaceful demonstrations will always be welcome, but our methods cannot be the same as those of the left, which always harm the population, such as invasion of property (…) curtailment of the right to come and go,” said the president.
He attributed the roadblocks to the “outrage and feeling of injustice” that occurred in the electoral process.
Bolsonaro has repeatedly claimed to have “whole system” against him, from the judicial system to the press.
– Transition underway –
For his part, Lula, 77, has already started working towards the transition.
Geraldo Alckmin, his running mate and former governor of Sao Paulo, will be in charge of coordinating this process with the outgoing administration, Lula’s Workers’ Party (PT) announced on Tuesday.
Also read: Lula receives Fernández and promises to visit Argentina before taking office
The goal is to start the process “from Thursday”, according to the formation.
Alckmin held the first high-level contact with the outgoing government on Monday, meeting by telephone with current Vice President Hamilton Mourao.
Lula will take office on January 1.
