Three Brazilian states still report truckers’ demonstration points

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – The Ministry of Infrastructure on Friday said that based on information from the Federal Highway Police (PRF), 3 states still register truckers’ concentration points: Rio Grande do Sul, Santa Catarina and Rondônia. In a note, the Ministry also said that “there are no roadblocks on federal highways.”

In the previous report, issued Thursday night, concentration points were registered on federal highways in 10 states, with isolated points in 4 others. The number of occurrences on federal highways fell 45%, according to the Ministry.

In the states of Mato Grosso do Sul, Goiás, Bahia, Minas Gerais, Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo, Espírito Santos and Paraná there are no more roadblocks in the federal network. There are gatherings with no impairment to the free flow of vehicles in Mato Grosso and Pará.

This is the 3rd day of truckers’ protests, who began to block highways after taking part in the September 7 demonstrations in defense of the federal government. A number of gas stations began to run out of fuel on Wednesday night, September 8, with drivers lining up to fill their tanks.

On Wednesday evening, President Jair Bolsonaro released an audio call for an end to the strikes. However, Bolsonarists, including trucker Marcos Antônio Pereira Gomes, known as Zé Trovão, did not take it as a true request and decided to continue the protest.

MEETING WITH TRUCKERS

On Thursday morning, Bolsonaro met with truckers and Minister of Infrastructure Tarcísio Gomes de Freitas to “make a decision.” After the meeting, truckers’ representatives said that Bolsonaro made no request to the category to demobilize.

Deputy Carla Zambelli (PSL-SP), who also attended the meeting, said that it is not up to the President of the Republic to decide what the category does.

“People, it’s what I’ve already told you: the President mentioned his concern for the vulnerable. What you heard in yesterday’s audio and what Tarcísio released on video, it’s the same issue. It’s not up to the President to decide what they do,” the deputy said.