President-elect Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva promised this Wednesday "restore harmony" between public powers in Brazil, after four years of institutional clashes during the government of far-right Jair Bolsonaro.
Two months after his inauguration, the leader of the Workers’ Party (PT) landed this Wednesday in Brasilia for a marathon day of meetings with the heads of legislative and judicial powers.
"It is possible to recover the harmony between the powers, to recover the normality of the coexistence between the Brazilian institutions, which were violated by the not always recommendable language of some authorities linked to the government."he told reporters late in the afternoon.
Lula, 77, began his first visit to the capital since his electoral victory with a meeting with the president of the Chamber of Deputies, Arthur Lira, a former ally of Bolsonaro.
"The country needs dialogue and normality"he wrote on Twitter along with a video while shaking hands with Lira at his residence in Brasilia.
He also met with the head of the Senate, Rodrigo Pacheco.
The veteran politician, who defeated Bolsonaro by just 1.8 points in the presidential ballot on October 30, is seeking support in Congress to fulfill his campaign promises on social policies as soon as he comes to power on January 1.
That includes, among others, making room in a tight budget to finance an increase in the minimum wage as well as keeping the Auxilio Brasil aid plan at 600 reais ($118).
Among the options, a constitutional amendment is being evaluated to modify the spending ceiling of the 2023 budget.
Without a majority in Congress, he will probably need the help of Lira, who is part of the "Centered"a coalition of key parties to pass proposals.
Vice President-elect Geraldo Alckmin, leader of Lula’s transition team, insisted on Tuesday that the future government is also evaluating other paths.
– Who finances the protests –
In Brasilia, Lula also met with the heads of the Federal Supreme Court, Rosa Weber; and of the Superior Electoral Court (TSE), Alexandre de Moraes.
"Brazil has no more time to continue fighting"said the former president (2003-2010), who waged a bitter campaign with Bolsonaro, plagued by attacks and insults. "There is no time for revenge, rage or hate. It’s time to rule"he added.
Bolsonaro, who has remained virtually absent from public life since his defeat, frequently criticized the judges of the supreme court, who on several occasions stopped measures by his government or authorized the opening of investigations into him.
The president also confronted the members of the TSE for their allegations of fraud regarding electronic ballot boxes.
Lula called for a return to normalcy in the streets, where a few Bolsonaro supporters, furious at the election result, hold protests in some parts of the country.
"I think it is necessary to detect who is financing these protests that have neither head nor tail"said the future ruler.
Last week, supporters of the president blocked roads and demonstrated in front of barracks to ask for a military intervention to prevent Lula’s rise to power.
The roads were cleared by the end of the week, however, around 100 trucks arrived in Brasilia on Wednesday before being detained by local authorities.
– Elections, "no inconsistencies" –
Meanwhile, another chapter of the elections was closed this Wednesday, when the Ministry of Defense finally delivered to the TSE its long-awaited technical report on the electronic voting system.
The 65-page document concludes that the counting of votes was carried out "no inconsistencies"but be aware that "It is not possible to say that the electronic voting system is exempt from the influence of any malicious code that could alter its operation."and recommends a technical investigation.
"There is legitimacy and approval by the Armed Forces for the transition process to continue"Christopher Mendonça, doctor in Political Science and professor at the IBMEC business university institute in Belo Horizonte, told AFP.
The TSE said in a statement that it received with "satisfaction" the report and said that it is yet another proof of the absence of fraud in the elections.