Lula demands Bolsonaro apologize to the army, Brazilians

By Bala Chambers

BUENOS AIRES (AA) - Brazil's President-elect Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva demanded outgoing leader Jair Bolsonaro apologize Thursday to the army for involving them in the electoral process.

"The president of the Republic, who is the commander-in-chief of the Armed Forces had no right to involve the Armed Forces, to make a commission to investigate electronic ballot boxes, something that belongs to civil society, the political parties, and the National Congress. The result was humiliating," said Lula.

Lula likened the situation to late Iraqi President Saddam Hussein who was deposed amid allegations of chemical weapons and who he said "did not have the courage to say he didn't have the weapons."

“I don't know if the president is ill but he has an obligation to come on television and apologize to Brazilian society and the Armed Forces, which is a serious institution," said Lula, describing it as a guarantee for Brazilians because the report "says nothing."

Lula noted some Pro-Bolsonaro supporters are still demonstrating at military barracks because they "are not satisfied with the electoral result, because of all the complaints, fake news, lies told in the electoral process that electronic voting machines were not serious."

Prior to the presidential election late last month, Bolsonaro cast doubt about the country’s electronic voting system without providing evidence.

The Defense Ministry's report that was released late Wednesday found no electoral irregularities in a detailed document provided to electoral authorities.

The 63-page report found no specific problem but suggested there could be vulnerabilities in the code.

Brazilian Justice Alexandre de Moraes, who oversees Brazil's Superior Electoral Court said the report was in keeping with other agencies' observations that did not find "any fraud or inconsistency in electronic ballot boxes or in the 2022 electoral process.”

De Moraes noted that authorities will look into the recommendations made.