Published: Less than 20 min ago
Updated: Just now
Car tires are burning and highways are blocked the day after the election in Brazil.
The truck drivers are protesting the election results – and demanding military intervention.
At the same time, there is radio silence from the election loser Bolsonaro.
While Lula supporters celebrated the election victory last night, Bolsonaro’s voters moved out towards the important highway linking Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo.
Many were truck drivers, some came from other cities and had heard about the demonstration on social media. Everyone considers the election results unacceptable.
– We will stay until there is a military intervention or the electoral authority changes its mind. We cannot accept what is happening to our country right before our eyes, says Antoniel Almedia, 45, who owns a party store, to New York Times.
– Lula cannot take the president’s job – there has been a maneuver to allow this, says truck driver Daniel dos Santos, 49, who was going to transport oranges but stopped at the protest.
Threatened with civil war
If the protesters are loud, it is all the quieter from the losers of the election.
A day after the election, Jair Bolsonaro has not yet admitted defeat – or said anything at all.
That has fueled concerns that the incumbent president will not hand over power without a fight.
Before the election, he threatened civil war if he lost.
For months, the president has also claimed that the only thing that can make him lose the election is if it is rigged.
Risk of export chaos
During the day, the truck protests have grown.
Car tires have been set on fire and people have gathered to pay tribute to the drivers of the stationary trucks.
According to Reuters roads in 20 states have been blocked in 236 different protests, something that could cause disruptions to food exports.
During his time as president, Bolsonaro has lowered the price of diesel, and truck drivers have become one of his most important constituencies.
The gang has previously caused chaos in the economy when they blocked highways.
The state of Mato Grosso is one of the country’s most important for grain production. If the protests continue, there could be consequences for corn exports, says Normando Corral, chairman of the farmers’ organization Famato.
– It is too early to say whether it will disrupt the production flow, since the blockades started yesterday. I don’t know how long it will last.