Flavio Bolsonaro has declared himself “the leader of Brazil” despite losing the presidential runoff to Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva…reports Asian Lite News Desk
Brazilian Senator Flavio Bolsonaro has declared himself “the leader of Brazil” despite losing Sunday’s presidential runoff to incumbent President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, alleging electoral irregularities and announcing plans to lead the opposition from abroad.
Bolsonaro, the son of former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro, made the declaration in an open letter published on social media platform X after reportedly travelling to the United States via Argentina using an Italian passport.
In the letter, Bolsonaro alleged electoral fraud without presenting supporting evidence and accused Brazil’s Supreme Federal Court (STF) of exceeding its authority by intervening in matters under the jurisdiction of the electoral court, Xinhua news agency reported.
His allegations centred on a decision to extend voting hours during Sunday’s runoff. Bolsonaro claimed that the extension was communicated only after polling stations were scheduled to close, resulting in unequal treatment of voters.
The STF had ordered voting to continue until 7 p.m., two hours beyond the original 5 p.m. deadline, after both presidential campaigns reported difficulties faced by voters attempting to reach polling stations.
However, the extension applied only to polling stations that remained open at the original closing time. Polling stations that had already closed were not reopened.
According to Brazilian media reports, approximately 34,300 votes were cast after the original deadline, considerably fewer than the margin separating the two presidential candidates.
Official results released by Brazil’s Superior Electoral Court showed Lula securing 51.79 per cent of valid votes, while Bolsonaro received 48.21 per cent. Lula’s victory margin exceeded four million votes.
Despite the outcome, Bolsonaro questioned the legitimacy of the election and positioned himself as a leading political opponent of the incumbent administration.
In his letter, he thanked US President Donald Trump and Argentine President Javier Milei while rejecting suggestions that he had fled Brazil to evade legal proceedings.
Bolsonaro maintained that he intended to lead the Brazilian opposition from outside the country, although his reported departure has raised questions because of restrictions imposed by the country’s highest court.
Brazilian media reported on Monday that STF Justice Alexandre de Moraes had ordered Bolsonaro to surrender his passports to the Federal Police and prohibited him from leaving Brazil.
The restrictions were imposed in connection with an investigation into suspected money laundering and illegal transfers of funds abroad. The allegations remain under investigation.
Despite the travel ban, Bolsonaro reportedly left Brazil using an Italian passport, travelling through Argentina before heading towards the United States.
Meanwhile, US media reported on Tuesday, citing a senior State Department official, that Washington would issue visas to Bolsonaro and his family, allowing them to enter the country.
“The State Department will issue visas to Flavio Bolsonaro and his family and allow them entry into the United States,” the official was quoted as saying.
The reported decision comes amid questions surrounding Bolsonaro’s legal status in Brazil and his ability to remain politically active while outside the country.
His declaration has added a new dimension to Brazil’s political tensions following the presidential election, with the defeated candidate refusing to accept the result and challenging the legitimacy of the voting process.
While Bolsonaro has presented himself as the country’s leader, the official electoral results confirm Lula’s victory, leaving the senator’s declaration without any recognised constitutional authority.
The developments have also drawn attention to the role of Brazil’s judiciary in overseeing electoral procedures and enforcing restrictions linked to ongoing investigations.
