Brazil: Jair Bolsonaro pledges to "respect the Constitution" after his defeat against Lula
Jair Bolsonaro at the presidential palace of Alvorada in Brasilia on November 1, 2022. AP - Eraldo Peres
Text by: RFI Follow
2 mins
The outgoing president of Brazil, Jair Bolsonaro, spoke this Tuesday, November 1 for the first time since the announcement of his defeat against Lula in the second round of the presidential election on Sunday, October 30.
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Jair Bolsonaro pledged on Tuesday to "
respect the Constitution as president
" of Brazil, breaking his silence two days after his electoral defeat against left-wing leader Lula, whose victory he did not recognize.
His chief of staff, Ciro Nogueira, indicated after a very brief speech by the outgoing president at the presidential palace that the latter had "
authorized the transition
".
After losing narrowly to Lula on Sunday (50.9%-49.1%), the incumbent head of state – until the handover on January 1 – isolated himself in his residence. official from Alvorada to Brasilia.
He went Monday morning to the Planalto Palace, the seat of the presidency, then returned in the afternoon to his residence, without making the slightest statement, noted an AFP photographer.
Tense transition period
This heavy silence, which Lula said he was "
worried
about " on Sunday evening, reminded many Brazilians that Jair Bolsonaro had repeatedly threatened not to recognize the verdict of the ballot box if he lost.
Already anticipating difficulties, Lula had wished on Sunday that “
the (outgoing) government be civilized
” and understand that “
it is necessary to make a good transfer of power
”.
The transition period got off to a tense start when truckers and pro-Bolsonaro protesters blocked highways in at least 11 states across the country on Monday, burning tires and parking vehicles in the middle of the road to halt traffic.
Dressed in the yellow and green of the Brazilian flag – which Jair Bolsonaro made his own – the demonstrators waved pro-Bolsonaro signs and sang the national anthem, before being gradually dispersed by the authorities in certain regions.
(
With
AFP)
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Brazil
Jair Bolsonaro
Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva