Brazilian former president and presidential candidate Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva (left) and Brazilian President and presidential candidate Jair Bolsonaro gesture during a televised presidential debate in Sao Paulo, Brazil, on October 16, 2022. The two faced each other in the first debate of the second round of Brazil’s election. Photo: VCG

Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro broke his silence on Friday for the first time since his election defeat on October 30 and spoke to supporters to stop leftist President-elect Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva taking office.

Bolsonaro said he had kept silent for almost 40 days, adding, "it hurts my soul."

"Who decides where I go are you. Who decides which way the armed forces go are you," Bolsonaro told his supporters at the gates of the presidential residence. In his ambiguous comments, Bolsonaro did not endorse their call for a military intervention, but said the armed forces would respect Brazil's Constitution.

He has not recognized Lula's victory in the October elections and his silence encouraged supporters to continue demonstrations outside army bases.

Lula's narrow victory over Bolsonaro will be certified by Brazil's national electoral authority on Monday.

Bolsonaro told his supporters that the armed forces were Brazil's bulwark to prevent socialism in the country, adding that "nothing is lost" and their cause would prevail one day.

"The Armed Forces are united. They owe loyalty to our people and respect to the constitution, and they are responsible for our freedom," he said.

"Unlike other people, we are going to win," he said.

Brazil's top electoral authority in November threw out a challenge by Bolsonaro's party against his election defeat and fined it more than $4 million for bringing the case "in bad faith."

Bolsonaro will remain in office until January 1, 2023.

Lula unveiled on Friday ministers in the key posts of foreign affairs, justice, defense, and chief of staff.

Agencies