25 flights canceled after pro-Bolsonaro truck drivers block access roads to Sao Paulo airport

This Tuesday, several truck drivers blocked access to Sao Paulo Guarulhos International Airport, the busiest in the country. According to the airport, 25 flights have been cancelled.

Since early Monday morning, thousands of protesters have blocked several roads in the country for rejecting Lula da Silva’s victory in Sunday’s elections.

On Tuesday, Brazil’s Supreme Court ordered police to remove dozens of trucks that were blocking roads. The Federal Highway Police (PRF) said truck drivers partially or completely blocked highways at 271 locations as part of protests that have spread to 23 of Brazil’s 26 states. The police have already announced the removal of another 192 roadblocks.

Brazilian state of São Paulo Governor Rodrigo Garcia announced on Tuesday that he would use “all necessary force” against truck drivers who support President Jair Bolsonaro and block roads to protest his defeat in the presidential election.

“The elections are over, we live in a democratic country (…) We have the results of the poll and we have an elected president, which is Lula [da Silva]”, Garcia said in a media statement in Sao Paulo.

Some truck drivers have posted videos calling for a military coup to prevent Lula, a leftist who served as Brazil’s president from 2003 to 2010, from taking office.

Bolsonaro remained silent for over 36 hours after his defeat, did not authorize the race or name an elected president.

The protests are already starting to affect the economy. Brazilian supermarkets have reported supply issues and have asked Bolsonaro to resolve the situation before stocks run out.

Truck drivers who benefited from the declining cost of diesel during Bolsonaro’s rule have been known to cripple Brazil’s economy when motorways close.