By Gustavo A. Maranges
While the whole world was celebrating Lula’s victory, Bolsonaro went to sleep and took over 24 hours to make a statement. He did not acknowledge the results or congratulate Lula, as is the tradition. He rather questioned the results, which was interpreted by his supporters as a call to maintain federal highway blockades. Hours later, when chaos had taken over the highways, Bolsonaro made a call to withdraw the blockades, but to maintain the protests.
He intends to keep Brazilian democracy in check, as Trump did in the U.S. Once again, the right wing’s modus operandi remains the same: not recognizing the election results and betting on social disorder and instability to hinder the new government’s work, many calling for the military to step in to fulfill their fantasies.