AO PAULO (AP) — Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro's administration signaled a

willingness to hand over power, two days after a nail-biting election loss to
leftist Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva and amid speculation the far-right incumbent
might fight the result.

Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro speaks from his official residence of Alvorada
Palace in Brasilia, Brazil, Tuesday, Nov. 1, 2022, the leader's first public
comments since losing the Oct. 30 presidential runoff. Behind his Bolsonaro's son
Eduardo, a lawmaker. (AP Photo/Eraldo Peres)
Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro speaks from his official residence of Alvorada
Palace in Brasilia, Brazil, Tuesday, Nov. 1, 2022, the leader's first public
comments since losing the Oct. 30 presidential runoff. Behind his Bolsonaro's son
Eduardo, a lawmaker. (AP Photo/Eraldo Peres)
© Provided by The Associated Press
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
the presidential palace, he said: “I have always played within the four lines of
the constitution,” although he stopped short of conceding.

After a private meeting with Bolsonaro, Supreme Court Justice Luiz Edson Fachin
said the conservative leader had said: "It is over. So, let’s look ahead.” The
justice made the comment in a video broadcast on local media.

Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro arrives to speak from his official residence of
Alvorada Palace in Brasilia, Brazil, Tuesday, Nov. 1, 2022, the leader's first
public comments since losing the Oct. 30 presidential runoff. (AP Photo/Eraldo
Peres)
Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro arrives to speak from his official residence of
Alvorada Palace in Brasilia, Brazil, Tuesday, Nov. 1, 2022, the leader's first
public comments since losing the Oct. 30 presidential runoff. (AP Photo/Eraldo
Peres)
© Provided by The Associated Press
Two other justices questioned by journalists declined to comment on the tenor of
the hour-long meeting. Brazil’s economy minister Paulo Guedes was also present, but
didn’t comment.

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

Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro arrives to speak from his official residence of
Alvorada Palace in Brasilia, Brazil, Tuesday, Nov. 1, 2022, the leader's first
public comments since losing the Oct. 30 presidential runoff. (AP Photo/Eraldo
Peres)
Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro arrives to speak from his official residence of
Alvorada Palace in Brasilia, Brazil, Tuesday, Nov. 1, 2022, the leader's first
public comments since losing the Oct. 30 presidential runoff. (AP Photo/Eraldo
Peres)
© Provided by The Associated Press
Earlier, in his first public comments since results came in, Bolsonaro didn’t
concede, but immediately afterward his chief of staff told reporters the
conservative leader had authorized him to begin the process of handing over power.

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

U.S. President Joe Biden and other international leaders have publicly recognized
da Silva’s victory, as have some of Bolsonaro’s closest allies. And Cabinet
members, governors-elect and evangelical leaders who have been strident supporters
of Bolsonaro are now offering overtures to the incoming leftist government.

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

Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro speaks from his official residence of Alvorada
Palace in Brasilia, Brazil, Tuesday, Nov. 1, 2022, the leader's first public
comments since losing the Oct. 30 presidential runoff. Behind is his son Eduardo, a
lawmaker. (AP Photo/Eraldo Peres)
Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro speaks from his official residence of Alvorada
Palace in Brasilia, Brazil, Tuesday, Nov. 1, 2022, the leader's first public
comments since losing the Oct. 30 presidential runoff. Behind is his son Eduardo, a
lawmaker. (AP Photo/Eraldo Peres)
© Provided by The Associated Press
Flanked by more than a dozen ministers and allies as he delivered a two-minute
speech at the presidential residence, the fiery leader did not mention the election
results. Instead, he defended his tenure and said he supports ongoing protests by
truckers who have erected nationwide roadblocks, as long as they don't become
violent.

Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro arrives to speak from his official residence of
Alvorada Palace in Brasilia, Brazil, Tuesday, Nov. 1, 2022, the leader's first
public comments since losing the Oct. 30 presidential runoff. (AP Photo/Eraldo
Peres)
Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro arrives to speak from his official residence of
Alvorada Palace in Brasilia, Brazil, Tuesday, Nov. 1, 2022, the leader's first
public comments since losing the Oct. 30 presidential runoff. (AP Photo/Eraldo
Peres)
© Provided by The Associated Press
“Current popular movements are the result of indignation and a feeling of injustice
regarding how the electoral process occurred,” he said.

The president's statement amounted to a “two-fold move,” said Thomas Traumann, an

independent political analyst.

Supporters of Brazil's President Jair Bolsonaro protest his reelection loss on the
side of the highway leading to Sao Paulo-Guarulhos International Airport, in
Guarulhos, Brazil, Tuesday, Nov. 1, 2022. (AP Photo/Victor R. Caivano)
Supporters of Brazil's President Jair Bolsonaro protest his reelection loss on the
side of the highway leading to Sao Paulo-Guarulhos International Airport, in
Guarulhos, Brazil, Tuesday, Nov. 1, 2022. (AP Photo/Victor R. Caivano)
© Provided by The Associated Press
“He didn’t recognize his defeat, and sustains the suspense," Traumann said. "But as
he wants to continue to dominate, to be the leader, he maintains the possibility of
peaceful demonstrations.”

Truckers supportive of President Jair Bolsonaro block a highway to protest his run-
off election loss to former President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva in Embu das Artes,
outskirts of Sao Paulo, Brazil, Tuesday, Nov. 1, 2022. (AP Photo/Andre Penner)
Truckers supportive of President Jair Bolsonaro block a highway to protest his run-
off election loss to former President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva in Embu das Artes,
outskirts of Sao Paulo, Brazil, Tuesday, Nov. 1, 2022. (AP Photo/Andre Penner)
© Provided by The Associated Press
Much like former U.S. President Donald Trump, whom Bolsonaro openly admires, he has
claimed that electronic voting machines are prone to fraud. He hasn't provided any
proof, even when ordered to do so by the electoral court.

Related video: 'Quite possible' Bolsonaro won't accept results of Brazil's

presidential election

For some analysis of Brazil's election results, we can speak to

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

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