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RIO DE JANEIRO—They have been dressed within the yellow jerseys worn by Brazil's nationwide soccer staff, many brandishing the nationwide flag, others holding indicators that learn: “Army is our solely savior!,” “Save the Nation” or “Intervention, Now!”
A whole lot of President Jair Bolsonaro supporters gathered regardless of sustained rainfall in entrance of Forte de Copacabana, a navy base on the southern finish of Rio de Janeiro’s well-known seaside.
Their message was crystal-clear, their feelings fierce and uncooked. One after one other they expressed their anger with Sunday’s election outcomes that introduced Luis Inácio Lula da Silva, Bolsonaro’s leftist opponent, again into energy. The vast majority of Bolsonaristas regard Lula as an unlawful president who must be in jail on corruption fees.
“What different means do we've got to save lots of this nation from being destroyed by the communists? You can not let this fester or in just a few years we will be standing right here crying, saying why did we find yourself like Venezuela?” pleaded Luciana Marquéz, wearing a soccer jersey with the identify Neymar on the again. Neymar da Silva Santos Jr., the most important present star in Brazilian soccer, lent his assist to Bolsonaro earlier than the election.
There have been tons of, if not hundreds, of throngs of Bolsonaristas like this one out throughout the nation. They continued to dam important highways and roads, from Porto Alegre within the south bordering Argentina, to the North bordering Venezuela. Many demanded that the navy interrupt the approaching transition of energy on Jan. 1 and stop Lula from regaining the presidency.
Some disturbing pictures got here from Sao Miguel do Oeste, within the southern shoreline state of Santa Catarina, the place Bolsonaristas have been blocking freeway SC-163 since Monday. At one level they collectively stretched out their proper arms within the Nazi “Sieg Heil” salute, whereas the Brazilian nationwide anthem was being performed within the background.
The tv community O Globo described the Bolsonaristas blockading the nation and demanding navy motion as golpistas—putschists.
In a video message to his supporters on Wednesday night time, Bolsonaro appealed to them to dismantle their barricades. The plea got here after a automobile drove into one of many blockades, leaving a number of injured. “I do know you’re upset and unhappy, that you simply hoped for a unique end result. I did too, I’m additionally unhappy and upset similar to you,” Bolsonaro mentioned.
Whether or not his plea is noticed, and Brazil steps again from the brink, is determined by the angle of the navy—the one drive within the nation able to mounting an actual coup d'état.
The Every day Beast spoke with two high-ranking Brazilian navy officers to debate the frame of mind of the military. The officers agreed to interviews underneath the situation of anonymity, citing their fears of potential punishment from their commanders.
It's no shock that the navy is nearer to Bolsonaro, a retired navy officer himself, than to Lula.
“We're professionals and we are going to serve the constitutionally elected president who's our commander-in-chief. And at this second it is going to be Lula da Silva,” declared an officer who serves on the air drive base right here in Rio de Janeiro. However he did categorical his disappointment in and even disdain for Lula’s supporters.
“Particularly, within the Northeast, many Brazilians should not well-educated and provides their poll to anybody who offers them cash,” he went on, pointing to the area thought to be a leftist bastion and which voted solidly for Lula.
His colleague was much more blunt towards Lulistas, calling them unpatriotic and a bunch of freeloaders. “Thieves like thieves, so I'm not stunned that some Brazilians voted for Lula. They haven't any delight in and obligation to this nation. All they need is to take and take. I'm afraid they may break this nation economically, and morally too.”
The truth is, greater than 60 million Brazilians voted for Lula this previous Sunday—a few of whom are actually joking concerning the set up of communism within the nation.
“I'll have a chunk of canine with a mashed potato on the aspect for dinner,” mentioned 27-year-old Fabiana, ridiculing the right-wing fearmongering as she was working for canopy in heavy rain close to Ipanema Seaside.
She was alluding to Jair Bolsonaro’s remark in the course of the marketing campaign that underneath Lula, Brazil would grow to be one other Venezuela, the place the starved inhabitants have been lowered to consuming canine and cats after greater than twenty years of socialist authorities.
Different Lulistas strike a extra critical, somber tone. “This Bolsonaro motion is just scary. I did not even have a good time on Sunday as a result of on my flooring [in my building], I reside with Bolsonaristas and so they have been and are nonetheless fairly pissed. It's higher to remain quiet and to not provoke them,” André Olivera defined in a luncheonette on Tonelero avenue.
As we spoke, we heard the Bolsonarista chants across the nook.
“I feel we're in the midst of a chilly civil warfare,” André added, visibly shaken.