Jair Bolsonaro’s Thick Silences | Trucker roadblocks as only reaction to failure

From Sao Paulo

The Bolsonaroist epic is now a mix of peace and roadblocks. Brazil was still waiting for word from the president – at least not until Monday the 31st. The political environment close to him prompts him to speak. But the executive branch’s only official reaction to the election results came from its vice president, Army officer Hamilton Mauro. Unable to confirm whether he acted on his own accord or at the behest of his political boss, he sent a message to retired General Lula’s aide, Doctor Geraldo Alcmin. A more formal one, in which he wished to contribute to the transition towards a congratulation and change of government. One of Bolsonaro’s sons, Flavio, tweeted thanks to “those who prayed” and added, “God is in charge!” He said goodbye. Not anymore.

The president’s four years in office led to a conflicting account of peace. Although he showed no sign, the opposition of the fanatics supporting him, a combination of truck drivers, agricultural entrepreneurs and businessmen, blocked roads and highways in some parts of the country. As of now the situation is not overcrowded, but it is a definite threat to the movement of people and goods between the various nerve centers of the country.

The PRF, the Central Highway Police, took some time to take action. His approach seems much lighter than the one he adopted on election day, when he stopped dozens of buses carrying supporters of the PT and its allies heading to the polls in the northeast.

The first effects after Lula’s victory were beyond the initial fall in the stock market – and then recovery – and general uncertainty in the markets due to the measures he will take from January 1. But the consequences of roadblocks are more unpredictable, although these measures are limited to states with a strong presence of the Brazilian far-right. South, South-West and South-East.

Mourão’s message to Alcmin, a more opaque but more prudent and intelligent general than his running mate in the 2018 elections, implicitly admitted defeat on social networks written by Flavio Bolsonaro, the coordinator of his father’s presidential campaign. “Thank you to everyone who helped us restore patriotism, who prayed, prayed, took to the streets, gave their sweat for the country they work for and gave Bolsonaro the biggest vote of his life! Let’s keep our heads up and not give up our Brazil! God is in charge! ” he expressed himself on Twitter in the tone of a religious sermon, which the family clan usually uses in their public interventions. His brothers Carlos and Eduardo, who hold different political positions, did not share their thoughts on Lula’s victory.

The UOL magazine published the so-called Center – A coalition of small right-wing parties – and some ministers – tried to convince the president to recognize the decision of the citizen of the Brazilian people. One of his cabinet members, quoted by the media: “Bolsonaro must act on two fronts. Take care of him and his children who are under investigation personally. From his political group, despite being defeated, he came out strong in this year’s elections and won the country’s main state, Sao Paulo.

But there is no case. Bolsonaro has never abandoned his silence, although voices that do not hold positions in government have been heard for him. They cut off many cities in Brazil’s southeast, midwest and south, and took place on many of the country’s highways. Despite the same path of agitation that started through social networks, the pickets, which are pressured by truckers, agricultural entrepreneurs and businessmen, do not have the same tactics.

The initial call that started on Telegram went viral until it spread to Whatsapp and sent wills across the country. The message said: “Attention, enter groups of respective states and organize your concentration. First on routes, then access roads and finally in the center of cities. The duration of armed forces action is 72 hours. We have no politicians, no parties, no funds. We are the people. We will not be angry in our homeland. No communism here. List of Telegram groups. The speech came from Parana state, one of three states in the south where roadblocks went largely unnoticed in the national media.

slogan “Already” (already) and ran through several major roads in Brazil, although he met resistance on his home turf. Wallace Landim, president of the Brazilian Association of Automotive Drivers (ABRAVA), aired his stance against the measures in a video called Soro: “I came today to talk to our transport department. We are going through very difficult times. Many people are calling me and asking about the strike with some points on the routes that have already been stopped in this country. I would like to stop myself here, through ABRAVA, to congratulate President Luis Inacio Lula da Silva on his victory, to recognize the election, democracy.

His words had a certain justification. In 2018, Bolsonaro, who followed then-presidential candidate Bolsonaro in 2018, cut routes due to sectoral claims that coincided with demands made by rural and transit voters. “This is not the time to stop the country. This is democracy. A hug to all!”, concluded the leader who opened the protest. A move that threatens to sever the ties of a major country where Bolsonaro opposes the electoral will expressed in the polls.

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