Mato Grosso experiences days of terror as the ‘soybean route’ becomes an anti-democratic powder keg

Used to export the production of agribusiness in Mato Grosso, BR-163, known as the “soybean route,” has become a “powder keg”. The highway is the most violent stage for protests held this month seeking the support of the Armed Forces to keep Jair Bolsonaro (PL) in the presidency after his defeat to Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva.

The “soy route” is the backbone of grain distribution in the country. The highway passes through towns that are among the largest agricultural producers, such as Sorriso, Lucas do Rio Verde and Nova Mutum. The off-season helps to explain the insistence in blocking the road.

“The paralysis is comfortable for the agribusiness producers because they have already received the inputs and planted the soybeans and corn for the next harvest. Now they will only need BR-163 as of January”, said Vivaldo Lopes, economic consultant for the Mato Grosso Association of Municipalities (AMM).

Despite the cooling off of the interdictions on BR-163, groups of Bolsonaro supporters continue camped out on the side of the road in tents, accentuating a climate of constant tension.