Brazil's Bolsonaro tells Supreme Court election 'is over'

Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro's ministration signalled a willingness to hand over power, two days after a nail-biting election loss to leftist Luiz Incio Lula da Silva and amid speculation far-right incumbent might fight result. 

Bolsonaro reportedly told members of Brazil's Supreme Court Tuesday that his election battle against da Silva has come to an end. 

Earlier, in a brief speech at presidential palace, he said: I have always played within four lines of constitution, although he stopped short of conceding. 

After a private meeting with Bolsonaro, Supreme Court Justice Luiz Edson Fachin said conservative leer h said: "It is over. So, let's look ahe. justice me comment in a video brocast on local media. 

Two or justices questioned by journalists declined to comment on tenor of hour-long meeting. Brazil's economy minister Paulo Guedes was also present, but didn't comment.

In a subsequent statement, top court said justices told Bolsonaro during "cordial and respectful meeting" that it is important he recognize election's results, as well as Brazilian people's right to freedom of movement. country has seen widespre gridlock as pro-Bolsonaro protesters block highways. 

Earlier, in his first public comments since results came in, Bolsonaro didn't concede, but immediately afterward his chief of staff told reporters conservative leer h authorized him to begin process of handing over power.

Bolsonaro, who before election h repeatedly questioned reliability of country's electoral system, h little room for potentially rejecting results. 

US President Joe Biden and or international leers have publicly recognized da Silva's victory, as have some of Bolsonaro's closest allies. And Cabinet members, governors-elect and evangelical leers who have been strident supporters of Bolsonaro are now offering overtures to incoming leftist government.

Bolsonaro lost Sunday's race by a thin margin, garnering 49.1 per cent of vote to da Silva's 50.9 per cent, according to nation's electoral authority. It was tightest presidential race since Brazil's return to democracy in 1985, and marks first time Bolsonaro has lost an election in his 34-year political career.

Flanked by more than a dozen ministers and allies as he delivered a two-minute speech at presidential residence, fiery leer did not mention election results. Inste, he defended his tenure and said he supports ongoing protests by truckers who have erected nationwide roblocks, as long as y don't become violent. 

Current popular movements are result of indignation and a feeling of injustice regarding how electoral process occurred, he said. 

president's statement amounted to a two-fold move, said Thomas Traumann, an independent political analyst. 

He didn't recognise his defeat, and sustains suspense," Traumann said. "But as he wants to continue to dominate, to be leer, he maintains possibility of peaceful demonstrations. 

Much like former US President Donald Trump, whom Bolsonaro openly mires, he has claimed that electronic voting machines are prone to fraud. He hasn't provided any proof, even when ordered to do so by electoral court.

Many of his supporters also said y believed election h been fraudulent and some called for military intervention and for Congress and Supreme Court to be disbanded. 

Earlier Tuesday, Brazil's Supreme Court ordered federal highway police to immediately clear ros.

A majority of court's justices backed decision, which accuses highway police of omission and inertia." By 8:30 pm local time, highway police said that y h removed 419 blockes, but nearly 200 were still in place.

Earlier in Sao Paulo, Brazil's most populous state and largest economy traffic jams around international airport led to dozens of flight cancellations, with videos on social media showing travellers rolling ir suitcases along highway in dark trying to catch ir flights. highways h been cleared by Tuesday morning, but airport officials said access remained difficult as traffic was still backed up in and out of airport.

re, Dalmir Almeida, a 38-year-old protester, said that after completing three days of strikes, he and ors will drive ir trucks to military barracks to ask for ir support. 

army will be in our favour, he said

At anor ro block in Sao Paulo state, protesters set tires on fire. Several demonstrators were wrapped in Brazilian flag, which has been co-opted by nation's conservative movement for demonstrations. Huge lines of cars could be seen snaking along highway.

Sao Paulo Gov. Rodrigo Garcia said time for negotiations was over, and he was not ruling out use of force.

In Minas Gerais, a key battleground state in election, a video on social media showed a protester telling a reporter from O Tempo news outlet that election was fraudulent and warned of future protests. 

We want Bolsonaro in 2023 and for years to come," he said. 

In Itaborai, a region in Rio de Janeiro state, an Associated Press reporter saw truck drivers kneeling in front of police officers and refusing to evacuate.

Users on social media, including in multiple Telegram and WhatsApp chat groups, shared demands that military take streets, or that Congress and Supreme Court be disbanded and president remain in office.

Supreme Court's decision on Tuesday permits regular state police forces to reinforce federal highway police. same was done in 2018, when an 11-day trucker strike brought Brazil to a halt.

Bolsonaro commands wide support from police forces' rank and file, however, and it wasn't clear how effective ir involvement would be.

2018 stoppage caused food prices to spike and left supermarket shelves without products as gas stations ran out of fuel. It caused billions in losses and revealed vast power that truckers possess. Bolsonaro, a lawmaker at time and months away from winning that year's presidential election, was an outspoken supporter of truckers, who are now among his constituents.