On Tuesday, several truck drivers blocked access to Sao Paulo’s international airport, Guarulhos, the country’s busiest. The airport said 25 flights had been cancelled.
Since Monday morning, thousands of protesters have blocked several roads in the country for not accepting Lula da Silva’s victory in Sunday’s elections.
This Tuesday, Brazil’s Supreme Court ordered police to remove dozens of trucks used to block roads. The Federal Highway Police (PRF) said truck drivers were blocking highways at 271 locations, partially or completely, as part of the protests that have spread to 23 of Brazil’s 26 states. Police have already reported the removal of another 192 roadblocks.
The governor of the Brazilian state of Sao Paulo, Rodrigo Garcia, announced this Tuesday that he will use “all necessary force” against truck drivers who support President Jair Bolsonaro and block roads in protest of his defeat in the presidential election.
“The elections are over and we live in a democratic country (…) there are polling results and we have an elected president, Lula.” [da Silva]Garcia said in a statement to the media in Sao Paulo.
Some truck drivers have posted videos calling for a military coup to prevent Lula, a leftist who served as Brazil’s president from 2003 to 2010, from taking office.
Bolsonaro remained silent more than 36 hours after his defeat and did not give the race or call the president-elect.
The protests are already beginning to affect the economy. Brazilian supermarkets have reported supply problems and have appealed to Bolsonaro to resolve the situation before there is total stockpiling.
Truck drivers – who benefited from lower diesel costs during Bolsonaro’s government – are known to disrupt the Brazilian economy when highways close.
Thousands of protesters have been stopped on highways and the protests are already beginning to affect Brazil’s economy
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