After losing to Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva by 4.4 million votes, the senator rejects the election result and calls on supporters to mobilize from abroad.
Brazilian senator Flávio Bolsonaro has fled to the United States and declared himself Brazil’s “true elected president” after losing the presidential election to Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva by 4.4 million votes, challenging the official result from abroad.
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In a manifesto published after arriving in the United States, Bolsonaro accused Brazil’s government of operating as a “regime” and alleged electoral fraud, citing a judicial decision that extended voting hours from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. He also urged his supporters to mobilize against the election result.
Official figures show that just 34,300 votes were cast after the usual closing time, too few to alter the overall outcome. Bolsonaro’s own campaign had requested the extension, according to the press release.
His declaration puts him at odds with his own party, the Liberal Party (PL), which formally recognized the election results. The move echoes a strategy previously adopted by Venezuelan opposition figure Juan Guaidó, who declared himself his country’s legitimate leader.
Text Reads: The Argentine government allegedly facilitated Flávio Bolsonaro’s escape to the United States, according to accusations seeking to hold President Javier Milei, Foreign Minister Pablo Quirno, Security Minister Alejandra Monteoliva, and advisor Santiago Caputo criminally liable.
⚖️ The charges allege crimes including concealment, human trafficking, and failure to enforce security controls. Bolsonaro crossed the border using an Italian passport—despite it being suspended—and boarded a private jet to Miami, bypassing Brazilian airspace while under the escort of the Airport Security Police.
🔍 The complaint raises questions about who paid for the flight, estimated at $140,000. Meanwhile, lawmaker Agustín Rossi has called for the questioning of Chief of Cabinet Diego Santilli, warning that the incident compromises Argentine sovereignty and the nation’s relationship with Brazil.
Bolsonaro’s departure for Florida follows a similar move by his father, former President Jair Bolsonaro, who traveled to the state in late 2022 after losing his election.
Other figures aligned with the Bolsonaro family are also in the United States, including his brother Eduardo Bolsonaro, political influencer Paulo Figueiredo and Alexandre Ramagem, the former head of Brazil’s intelligence agency, Abin. They have faced prosecution or investigations over alleged offenses linked to attempts against Brazil’s democratic institutions.
U.S. President Donald Trump confirmed that he had facilitated the entry of Flávio Bolsonaro and his family by arranging visas through the State Department.
The manifesto initially featured the former coat of arms of the “United States of Brazil” before the English-language version was corrected to use “Brazil,” according to the press release.
Bolsonaro is also facing judicial investigations in Brazil over alleged irregular financing and the preventive retention of passports, the press release states.
Lula’s victory breaks a run of nine electoral wins in the region by right-wing candidates promoted or backed by the Trump administration, including Argentina’s 2025 legislative elections.
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