His self-imposed silence and seclusion has caused several allies of Brazil’s still president, Jair Bolsonaro, to begin to doubt his figure as opposition leader and have urged him to serve as such.
From the leadership of his party, the Liberal Party (PL), they have harshly criticized the voluntary ostracism of Bolsonaro, who has been told that the time to «lick the wounds» caused by his defeat in the elections is over, according to the newspaper ‘O Globo’.
His detractors argue that, in case of continuing with this attitude, he could fall into irrelevance and lose much of the support that despite the electoral result he has achieved. A position that contrasts with that of some of his followers, who continue protesting Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva’s triumph.
The decision not to attend the G20 meeting that is taking place these days in Bali, Indonesia, has also been criticized by his allies, who consider that he should have used his international agenda to counteract the influence of Lula, who will be seen this week in Egypt at the United Nations climate summit (COP27).
Within the PL there is widespread complaint about the apathy shown by Bolsonaro after learning the results of elections whose results he has not openly acknowledged. The party argues that it is time to turn the page and for him to become the leader of the opposition with a view to a possible candidacy in 2026.
Lula himself already said last week that it was time for «the president to publicly recognize his defeat, reflect and if he will prepare himself in a few years to be a candidate again», since «nobody will believe the coup speech of one who lost the elections».
Not even Bolsonaro has come out to respond to his rival’s criticisms. Since his defeat on October 30, the ultra-right leader has been confined to the official residence, the Alvorada Palace, where he has been receiving his ministers and allies, and has limited his appearances on social networks.
