Jakarta, ThedailyID — Flavio Bolsonaro claims he is Brazil’s legitimate president-elect despite losing to incumbent Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva. The son of former president Jair Bolsonaro says he has moved to the United States to escape what he calls the politicization of Brazil’s justice system.
In an open letter posted on X on Wednesday (October 28), Flavio initially called himself Brazil’s “legitimate president-elect.” He later deleted the letter and replaced it with a new version that described him as the country’s “leader.”
Flavio accused Lula’s camp of manipulating the October 25 election. He claimed actions by Lula’s former lawyer produced an outcome he considered mathematically impossible. According to Flavio, Lula gained more than 10 million votes between the first and second rounds.
He also criticized a Federal Supreme Court (STF) decision to extend voting hours. Flavio alleged that the decision came after official voting hours ended and polling stations closed. He argued that this move subjected voters to different rules.
The Bolsonaro family member also accused a judge involved in a major corruption scandal of unlawfully launching a recent investigation against him. He said the case reflected what he described as growing abuses of judicial power.
Flavio said he moved to the US because he feared political persecution under Lula’s government. He compared his situation to the treatment he believes his father faced.
He also denied that authorities had issued an arrest warrant against him. Instead, he described the situation as a politically motivated “witch hunt.” He alleged that the investigation aimed to pressure him and protect corrupt Supreme Court judges from impeachment.
Flavio listed several measures he feared, including passport confiscation, electronic monitoring, house arrest, and what he called a sham trial. He said he wanted to protect his family from similar treatment.
In his letter, Flavio thanked US President Donald Trump and his administration for welcoming his family. He said they had provided legal protection that he could no longer obtain in Brazil.
“I am not fleeing Brazil. I am leaving an extraordinary regime so I can become the leader my people deserve,” he wrote.
Flavio lost the presidential election to Lula by approximately 4.5 million votes. He has refused to recognize Lula’s victory but previously pledged to organize the opposition.
Trump supported Flavio because of his father’s alliance with the US president. However, Trump also welcomed Lula’s reelection.
