Flávio Bolsonaro Declares Himself "President-Elect" of Brazil from the U.S.

From the United States, Brazilian Senator Flávio Bolsonaro declared himself the "president-elect" of Brazil on Wednesday, despite losing the presidential election to Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva. He announced his intention to lead the opposition from abroad.

In a three-page letter shared on his X account, the senator alleged electoral fraud, accused judicial authorities of persecution, and expressed gratitude to former U.S. President Donald Trump for hosting him and his family, as reported by the Brazilian newspaper Metrópoles.

"I address the Brazilian people and the international community as the true president-elect of Brazil," he stated at the beginning of the document.

Bolsonaro began by thanking Argentine President Javier Milei for his "courage, sense of justice, and legality," as well as Trump and the American public for their warm reception.

The Allegations Against Lula's Government

In his statement, Bolsonaro accused Lula's government of electoral fraud during the October 25 run-off and specifically criticized the actions of Supreme Federal Court (STF) Judge Cristiano Zanin. Zanin had ordered an extension of voting hours at certain polling stations.

According to Bolsonaro, this decision allowed Lula to gain more than 10 million votes compared to the first round, which he claimed was a mathematical impossibility.

The Superior Electoral Court recorded 34,393 votes cast after 5:00 p.m., a number that neither explains nor alters the final vote difference between the candidates, according to Metrópoles' verification.

Claims of Political Persecution

The senator also alleged the misuse of public resources and economic power to favor the re-election of Lula and Geraldo Alckmin. He argued that such irregularities should nullify their victory.

Bolsonaro further claimed that ongoing judicial investigations against him are part of a political persecution strategy similar to that faced by his father, former President Jair Bolsonaro.

"I want to make it clear: there is no arrest warrant against me because I haven't committed any crime," he insisted, labeling the judicial actions as a "witch hunt."

Exile and Political Strategy

Flávio Bolsonaro stated he was unwilling to expose his family to the conflict's repercussions and confirmed he had moved them to the United States.

"Faced with Brazil's politicized justice, I brought my family to the U.S., where we feel safe," he said, extending his gratitude to the U.S. government once more for allowing them to stay.

His statement did not mention any formal asylum application or provide details on their immigration status in the U.S.

Bolsonaro rejected claims that his departure was an escape, asserting, "I didn't flee Brazil, I left for Brazil," and expressed his intent to become the leader his supporters deserve.

Historical Comparisons and Future Plans

The senator likened his situation to historical figures who led political efforts from exile, such as José Martí, who organized Cuba's independence struggle from New York, and Charles de Gaulle, who led the resistance against Nazi occupation from London.

He also mentioned Brazilian jurist Rui Barbosa and Venezuelan opposition leaders like Juan Guaidó, Edmundo González Urrutia, and María Corina Machado as examples to justify his decision to act from another country.

Bolsonaro announced his departure marks the beginning of a new phase of political confrontation with Lula's government, vowing to speak for his "60 million voters" and accusing the ruling party of electoral theft.

He urged Brazilian institutions to restore the balance of power and end what he described as opposition persecution while appealing to the international community not to normalize Brazil's political situation, which he depicted as an institutional crisis.

Bolsonaro called on allied senators, deputies, and governors, particularly naming Rogério Marinho as his candidate for Senate president, promising to continue defending their positions from the U.S.

"I will lead the opposition from here. I will say what you cannot say there and take risks you cannot take," he declared.

The senator pledged to regularly address the Brazilian people in the coming days and outline a strategy to mobilize his supporters through what he called peaceful and legitimate actions.

In closing, Bolsonaro reiterated that he has not abandoned Brazilians and will continue his political struggle from abroad, saying, "I left Brazil, but I did not abandon Brazilians. This fight did not end on October 25."

Bolsonaro's claims stand in stark contrast to the official results announced by Brazil's Superior Electoral Court, which confirmed Lula's re-election with 64,256,232 votes, representing 51.79% of the valid votes.

Flávio Bolsonaro received 59,826,041 votes, or 48.21%, finishing the run-off with 4,430,191 fewer votes than the re-elected president.

The court also confirmed that extended voting hours were applied at locations that remained open due to transportation and voting organization challenges.

The statement comes after Lula's victory in the Sunday run-off, where he overcame Bolsonaro's first-round lead. The defeated candidate refused to acknowledge Lula's win and questioned the electoral process's legitimacy, particularly the extended voting hours.

His stance diverged from his political party, as the Liberal Party officially recognized the results declared by the Superior Electoral Court through a statement signed by its president, Valdemar Costa Neto.

This Wednesday, Bolsonaro arrived in Miami with his family after leaving Brazil despite a court order prohibiting his departure and demanding passport surrender.

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