From the US, Flávio Bolsonaro calls himself president-elect

Flávio Bolsonaro, who lost Brazil’s election, has called himself the “true president-elect” from Miami and then the “leader of Brazil”, alleging fraud without evidence. Lula was re-elected with 52% of the vote against 48%. Bolsonaro left via Argentina after a judge ordered him to hand in his passports in a money-laundering investigation.

Bolsonaro deleted the first of two open letters on X within minutes. He insists he did not flee but “left”, claiming Brazil is under a “state of exception”. His father, former president Jair Bolsonaro, is under house arrest after being sentenced to 27 years for plotting a coup against Lula.

In the run-off Lula finished more than four million votes ahead. Flávio Bolsonaro has presented no evidence of fraud; he has been backed by US President Donald Trump, who let him into the country, and by Argentina’s President Javier Milei.