“I ask you to clear the streets. Protest in a different way. In my understanding, that is not part of our democracy. Please don’t think badly of me,” the far-right leader said in a video posted to his social media account, Twitter.
Bolsonaro implied in the audiovisual video that blocking arteries, primarily by assisting truckers, violates the constitutional right to free movement.
“The closure of highways in Brazil violates people’s right to come and go, it’s in our constitution and we’ve always stayed within the four lines[of the Basic Law],” he said.
He urged his supporters to “respect the right of other people who move and harm our economy.”
The ex-military also expressed his support for the mood of the protesters, noting that he was “so upset, so sad” like the supporters.
Bolsonaro’s motion emerged on the third day of deadlocks that began after his defeat of Lula in the second round on Sunday.
Both politicians contested the vote because they did not achieve the absolute majority of votes in the first ballot on October 2nd, i.e. more than half of the valid votes (excluding blanks and zero votes), as required by electoral law.
The number of federal highways blocked or partially intercepted in the South American giant by protesters against the voting result is 146, according to a report released by the Federal Highway Police (PRF).
According to the PRF’s latest report, 16 states are listed with closed roads as of early Wednesday night.
Before the fences, the National Federation of Distributors of Fuels, Biofuels and Natural Gas (Brasilcom) recommended unlocking it under the risk of fuel shortages.
“Brasilcom recommends coordinated action by the relevant authorities to urgently open highways and, if necessary, protect and accompany fuel transport,” the association said in a statement.
She calls for ensuring supplies to train stations, supermarkets and hospitals, the main victims of supply disruptions.
jha/ocs