Following his undisclosed departure to the United States, the defeated Brazilian presidential candidate Flávio Bolsonaro publicly questioned the election outcome. In a letter released on Wednesday to the Brazilian public, Bolsonaro labeled the election results as “illegitimate,” accusing the government of politically motivated persecution targeting him. He declared himself the “true elected president.”
Bolsonaro explained that he decided to move to the US with his family for their safety due to the “political instrumentalization of the judiciary” in Brazil. He offered personal thanks to US President Donald Trump and his administration for providing him refuge.
At the same time, the current Brazilian President, Lula da Silva, criticized Bolsonaro’s exit, calling the act “disgraceful.”
On a separate matter, Bolsonaro is being investigated for alleged corruption, money laundering, and foreign exchange smuggling. While he denies any misconduct, a Supreme Court Justice had previously ordered him on Monday to surrender his passports within 24 hours-a move Bolsonaro bypassed by flying to the US.
