The far-Right president didn’t mention victorious rival Lula, but saluted those protesting in his favour
Brazil’s Jair Bolsonaro on Tuesday night broke his 44-hour silence since his election defeat to leftist Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, but failed to officially concede.
In a 90-second address, Mr Bolsonaro did not mention the president-elect, nor acknowledge the outcome of Sunday’s election, though he did salute those protesting in his favour in various parts of the country.
Hundreds of motorways around Brazil are being blocked by small pockets of pro-Bolsonaro protesters, demanding the outgoing president launch a coup d’etat against Lula.
Mr Bolsonaro said that he welcomed “peaceful demonstrations”, but added that protesters should not impede the population’s freedom of movement – a strategy he classified as being “a Left-wing method.”