The narrow victory of Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, with just over 60 million votes, against Jair Bolsonaro, who received just over 58 million votes, shows how divided the Brazilian people are between a very conservative right and a left that, in this election, had to move more towards the center to have any chance of winning.
Lula built a broad alliance, with several center and center-right politicians, including historical adversaries of the PSDB, the Brazilian Social Democracy Party. Among these politicians is his vice president, former São Paulo governor Geraldo Alckmin, who has been cited by Lula’s bench as a guarantee of moderation in his government.
His campaign also received a boost from centrist former presidential candidate Simone Tebet, who came in third in the first round and supported Lula in the second. In addition to the support of several renowned economists respected by investors, including Armínio Fraga, former president of the Central Bank of Brazil.
However, the victory by a narrow margin shows that his biggest challenge now will be to unify a politically fractured country.
Hours after the results were announced, videos on social media showed that Bolsonaro supporters blocked highways in two states to protest Lula’s victory. On Monday morning, truck drivers in more than 11 states closed roads, arguing that they do not recognize the election results.
“We will only leave when the army takes the country,” said an unidentified Bolsonaro supporter in a video made in Santa Catarina.
Despite the protests occurring in several states, leaders of organizations representing truck drivers claim to recognize the result of the presidential election and that the blockades are promoted by isolated groups that want to harm the economy.
With the exception of isolated groups supporting Bolsonaro, no one questioned the election results, which were considered a success and without any risk of fraud by the Minister of the Superior Electoral Court (TSE), Alexandre de Moraes.
“We do not foresee any real risk of any contestation. The result was proclaimed, the result will be accepted. Former President Lula and Alckmin will be sworn in on December 19,” said the Minister.
By Monday morning, President Jair Bolsonaro had not yet commented on the election results and his defeat.
To govern for everyone, including the 58 million who voted for Bolsonaro, Lula will have to form “pragmatic alliances” with parts of the center and even the right that bought into his predecessor’s politics.
After all, he will have to govern with a large opposition, as Bolsonaro’s party and supporters achieved significant victories in the general elections, securing the majority of seats in Congress and a significant number of state governments.
At the same time, Lula will have to meet the expectations of his electorate, who went to the polls not only hoping to “get rid of” Bolsonaro but also with hopes for better economic times.