Thousands of President Jair Bolsonaro’s supporters have called on the military to keep the far-right leader in power, even as his administration signalled a willingness to hand over the reins to leftist rival Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva.
Thousands of President Jair Bolsonaro’s supporters have called on the military to keep the far-right leader in power, even as his administration signalled a willingness to hand over the reins to leftist rival Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva.
The president’s supporters gathered in the rain outside the Eastern Military Command in Rio de Janeiro, one of the army’s eight regional headquarters, many of them raising clenched fists in the air as they brandished Brazilian flags and sang the national anthem.
Some chanted, “Armed forces, save Brazil!” and “United, the people will never be defeated!”
Meanwhile, truck drivers who for days have maintained roadblocks across the country to protest against Mr Bolsonaro’s defeat were still out in force, despite a supreme court order to dismantle them.
The protests came amid international recognition of Mr da Silva’s victory and a recommendation from the Brazilian supreme court that Mr Bolsonaro accept the results of Sunday’s election.
