Bolsonaro to meet with striking Brazil truckers, ministry says

A demonstrator wraps the Brazilian national flag around his shoulders as truckers block the BR-116 Regis Bittencourt highway in support of Brazil's President Jair Bolsonaro in Sao Paulo, Brazil, September 9, 2021. REUTERS/Leonardo Benassatto

BRASILIA (Reuters) - Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro will meet by videoconference on Thursday with truckers leading blockades of highways in some 15 states, the Infrastructure Ministry said on social media, raising hopes he could end protests threatening export routes.

Stirred up by the president's call to action at Tuesday political rallies, the trucker protests had partially blocked highways in a half dozen states early on Wednesday, but gained steam as Bolsonaro was hesitant to publicly denounce them.