Status: 04.11.2022 08:48 a.m
Brazil’s deselected head of state has still not admitted his defeat – but Bolsonaro has now apparently signaled to the Lula team that he is willing to hand over power. Lula’s vice-designate called a meeting “positive.”
After his defeat in the presidential election, Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro met with advisors to the victor Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva. Vice President-elect Geraldo Alckmin, who heads Lula’s transition team, described the conversation with Bolsonaro as “positive”.
The outgoing president has pledged to “give us all the information and support we need for a smooth transition.” The process of handing over power had begun, Alckmin had said shortly before.
The far-right incumbent narrowly lost the runoff election to his left-leaning challenger Lula on Sunday. So far, Bolsonaro has not publicly acknowledged his defeat. Only on Tuesday did he signal his readiness for a peaceful handover of power to Lula.
Bolsonaro’s head of cabinet, Ciro Nogueira, has now said that Bolsonaro has authorized him to initiate the process of changing government.
Bolsonaro’s approval of change of power not required by law
However, the transfer of power is regulated by law anyway, and approval by the outgoing government is not required. Lula will take office on January 1, 2023.
Bolsonaro supporters set up roadblocks in various locations across the country to protest Lula’s election victory. Tens of thousands of his supporters called for the army to intervene.
Bolsonaro called on his supporters on Wednesday to break up the road blockades. Other protests “in other places” are “welcome” because they are “part of the democratic game,” he added.