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Flávio Bolsonaro declares himself the 'true elected president' after fleeing to the U.S.

Senator Flávio Bolsonaro published a letter in the U.S. claiming to be Brazil's legitimate president, refusing to acknowledge his election defeat.

29 October 2026Tagblick Newsdesk

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Flávio Bolsonaro declares himself the 'true elected president' after fleeing to the U.S. — Photo: U.S. Consulate in Rio · Wikimedia Commons · Public domain

Flávio Bolsonaro, the senator and defeated candidate in the Brazilian presidential election, fled Brazil on October 27 and arrived in the United States. The following day, he released a letter through his ally Paulo Figueiredo, where he proclaimed himself 'the true elected president of Brazil.'

In his statement, Flávio Bolsonaro claimed that his victory was annulled by a 'coup' allegedly orchestrated by President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva and the Supreme Federal Court. Additionally, the senator did not acknowledge the result of last Sunday’s election, where he was defeated by Lula.

In his letter, Flávio expressed gratitude to figures such as Donald Trump and Javier Milei, stating that he received assistance in his escape from Brazil. This declaration sparked negative reactions and provocations across various political spheres.

After publishing the letter, Flávio Bolsonaro deleted the part where he referred to himself as 'elected president' and began calling himself 'the leader of Brazil.' This retraction occurred about 20 minutes after the initial release, indicating a possible shift in his communication strategy.

The content of the letter provoked criticism in the Federal Senate, with opponents demanding respect for the electoral outcome. The management of the TSE, under the leadership of Kassio Nunes Marques, also responded, dismissing the allegations of fraud made by Flávio.

Suspicions that Flávio's flight and statements may involve attempts to sabotage relations between the Lula government and the United States have been raised by Lula's allies, who view his actions as a means to create conflict in diplomatic relations. However, Donald Trump stated that he would not interfere in Brazilian electoral matters.

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