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Bolsonaro breaks silence without acknowledging defeat Bolsonaro breaks silence without acknowledging defeat
(31 minutes later)
Watch: Tear gas is fired at Bolsonaro's supporters as roadblocks take place across the countryWatch: Tear gas is fired at Bolsonaro's supporters as roadblocks take place across the country
Watch: Tear gas is fired at Bolsonaro's supporters as roadblocks take place across the countryWatch: Tear gas is fired at Bolsonaro's supporters as roadblocks take place across the country
Brazil's far-right president, Jair Bolsonaro, has broken the silence he had maintained since being defeated in Sunday's presidential election.Brazil's far-right president, Jair Bolsonaro, has broken the silence he had maintained since being defeated in Sunday's presidential election.
He thanked voters who had cast their ballots for him but did not acknowledge defeat.He thanked voters who had cast their ballots for him but did not acknowledge defeat.
But he did not contest the result either, as some had feared he may have. But he did not contest the result either, as some had feared he would.
His chief of staff spoke after Mr Bolsonaro's brief statement saying that the "process of transition" of power would begin. His chief of staff, Ciro Nogueira, spoke after Mr Bolsonaro's brief statement saying that the "process of transition" of power would begin.
Mr Bolsonaro said that he had always stayed within the framework of the constitution and would continue to respect it.Mr Bolsonaro said that he had always stayed within the framework of the constitution and would continue to respect it.
He did not mention Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, his arch rival who narrowly beat him on Sunday, at all.He did not mention Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, his arch rival who narrowly beat him on Sunday, at all.
Tension had risen in the country after Mr Bolsonaro broke with the tradition of acknowledging defeat. In an apparent reference to the hundreds of roadblocks which his hardcore supporters have erected across the country, he said that "peaceful demonstrations" would always be welcome.
Some of his supporters are refusing to recognise the results, and have erected roadblocks across the country. The head of Brazil's Supreme Court, Alexandre de Moraes, had said earlier on Tuesday that there was "a risk to national security" and ordered that the roads be cleared.
Police said they had cleared more than 300 roadblocks so far, but 267 remain. But police have struggled to remove all the roadblocks, of which there are still more than 250.
Dozens of flights in and out of São Paulo's international airport had to be cancelled after a key access road was cut off by protesters. In a reference to the motto on Brazil's flag, Mr Bolsonaro also said that "we're for order and progress". And he repeated the values he says he and his party stand for: "God, fatherland, family and freedom".
Disruption and tension
Tension has been on the rise since the election result was announced.
Dozens of flights in and out of São Paulo's international airport had to be cancelled after a key access road was cut off by protesters who refuse to recognise the result.
Kneeling protesters disrupted the access to the airport in São PauloKneeling protesters disrupted the access to the airport in São Paulo
Blockages have been reported in all but two states, causing considerable disruption and affecting food supply chains.Blockages have been reported in all but two states, causing considerable disruption and affecting food supply chains.
Travellers on busses reported running low on water and food as they spent hours stuck in queues.Travellers on busses reported running low on water and food as they spent hours stuck in queues.
The head of Brazil's Supreme Court, Alexandre de Moraes, said there was "a risk to national security" and ordered that the roads be cleared.
The blockades started shortly after Brazil's electoral authorities announced a narrow win for Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva in the run-off of the presidential election.The blockades started shortly after Brazil's electoral authorities announced a narrow win for Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva in the run-off of the presidential election.
With all the votes counted, Lula had 50.9% of the valid votes against Mr Bolsonaro's 49.1%. The result was announced just before 20:00 local time (23:00 GMT) on Sunday.With all the votes counted, Lula had 50.9% of the valid votes against Mr Bolsonaro's 49.1%. The result was announced just before 20:00 local time (23:00 GMT) on Sunday.
It is customary for the defeated candidate to congratulate the winner and no previous outgoing president had taken this long to contact their successor. It is customary for the defeated candidate to congratulate the winner and no previous outgoing president has taken this long to contact their successor.
Normally very active on social media, Mr Bolsonaro had also remained silent on all his social platforms. Normally very active on social media, Mr Bolsonaro has also remained silent on all his social platforms.
On Tuesday, before Mr Bolsonaro had spoken, the group representing highway police said the president's silence "was encouraging a section of his followers to block Brazilian roads".On Tuesday, before Mr Bolsonaro had spoken, the group representing highway police said the president's silence "was encouraging a section of his followers to block Brazilian roads".
Combative statements from the president in the past - such as that "only God" could remove him from office - meant that there had been a tense wait for him to appear in public.Combative statements from the president in the past - such as that "only God" could remove him from office - meant that there had been a tense wait for him to appear in public.
Before the election, he had repeatedly cast unfounded doubts on the voting system.Before the election, he had repeatedly cast unfounded doubts on the voting system.
Since he lost, President Bolsonaro has only been spotted from afar while in Alvorada PalaceSince he lost, President Bolsonaro has only been spotted from afar while in Alvorada Palace
Close allies of Mr Bolsonaro however have congratulated Lula on his win, and the powerful speaker of the lower house of Congress, Arthur Lira, said that "the will of the majority, as it is expressed in the polls, can never be contested".Close allies of Mr Bolsonaro however have congratulated Lula on his win, and the powerful speaker of the lower house of Congress, Arthur Lira, said that "the will of the majority, as it is expressed in the polls, can never be contested".
Congratulations also poured in from across the world, with US President Biden saying the win came "following free, fair and credible elections".Congratulations also poured in from across the world, with US President Biden saying the win came "following free, fair and credible elections".
Analysts have noted that when Mr Nogueira spoke just after Mr Bolsonaro's statement, he did refer to "President Lula", which some take to mean that Mr Bolsonaro's team accepts the outgoing president's defeat.
But others point out that the correct label should have been "President-elect Lula" to show that Lula - who served two terms as president between 2003 and 2010 - has been elected again.
Members of Mr Bolsonaro's government have also been in touch with Lula's team to start working on the transition of power ahead of Lula's swearing-in on 1 January 2023.Members of Mr Bolsonaro's government have also been in touch with Lula's team to start working on the transition of power ahead of Lula's swearing-in on 1 January 2023.
And while Mr Bolsonaro is looking increasingly isolated politically, hardcore supporters appear emboldened by his failure to acknowledge defeat.And while Mr Bolsonaro is looking increasingly isolated politically, hardcore supporters appear emboldened by his failure to acknowledge defeat.
"We will not accept losing what we have gained, we want what is written on our flag, 'order and progress'," one protester in Rio de Janeiro told AFP news agency."We will not accept losing what we have gained, we want what is written on our flag, 'order and progress'," one protester in Rio de Janeiro told AFP news agency.
"We will not accept the situation as it is," the man added."We will not accept the situation as it is," the man added.
President-elect Lula, meanwhile, has been holding phone calls with world leaders, including US President Joe Biden, French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz.President-elect Lula, meanwhile, has been holding phone calls with world leaders, including US President Joe Biden, French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz.
He also had an in-person meeting with Argentine President Alberto Fernández.He also had an in-person meeting with Argentine President Alberto Fernández.