The head of the Superior Electoral Court (TSE) of Brazil, Alexandre de Moraes. Photo: AFP
The head of the Superior Electoral Court (TSE) of Brazil, Alexandre de Moraes, said that the result of Sunday’s elections is “indisputable” and assured that those who do not accept it and are committing “anti-democratic acts” will be considered criminals, referring to to the protests that are taking place throughout the country by Bolsonarist groups that ask not to recognize the victory of Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva.
“The voters, for the most part, are democratic. They democratically accepted the result of the elections. Those who are not accepting it, who are practicing anti-democratic acts, will be treated as criminals,” Moraes said, according to the Folha de Sao Paulo newspaper.
Lula’s democratic victory
The president of the TSE participated in the first session of the court after the ballot on Sunday, in which Lula prevailed by 50.9% to 49.1% over the current president, Jair Bolsonaro.
Facade of the Superior Electoral Court (TSE) of Brazil. lPhoto: Brazil Agency
“The elections are over, the second round ended democratically last Sunday. The TSE proclaimed the winner, who will be recognized with a diploma before December 19 and will take office on January 1, 2023. This is democracy, this is alternation of power, this is a republican state,” said Moraes,
Since Monday, several Brazilian states have been registering roadblocks for Bolsonaro supporters who ask not to recognize the result and there were even coup protests in front of Army barracks to request the intervention of the military.
Moraes, who on Monday night determined that the Military Police was authorized to act to free the national and provincial routes, assured that the movements that block the routes are “criminal,” according to the G1 portal.
The Brazilian Minister of Justice, for his part, said Thursday on Twitter that 4,216 fines were applied, there were 20 actions by the shock troops and 37 people were arrested. At the same time, he indicated that there are still two blockade points and 137 demonstrations.
🚧 Occurrences on federal highways in Brazil
🛣️ Total undone demonstrations: 688 pic.twitter.com/8x2pyWigWa
— PRF Brasil (@PRFBrasil) November 2, 2022
Bolsonaro made his first public statement on Tuesday, in a brief speech at the Alvorada Palace, the seat of government, in which he avoided accepting defeat and congratulating Lula, and barely said that he was going to comply with the Constitution.
He published a video on his social networks in which he said he was “sad”, but asked his followers to “unblock the routes”, arguing that this measure “is not part of these legitimate demonstrations”.
– President Jair Bolsonaro asks protesters to clear highways: pic.twitter.com/ztRXh3IQWu
— Jair M. Bolsonaro 2️⃣2️⃣ (@jairbolsonaro) November 2, 2022
The president in turn entrusted his chief of staff, Ciro Nogueira, to carry out the transition work with Lula’s team. In this framework, he will hold a first meeting with the coordinator of the team of the leader of the Workers’ Party (PT), the elected vice president Geraldo Alckmin.
