After landing in US, Flavio Bolsonaro declares himself Brazil’s rightful leader
SAO PAULO, Oct 28 (Reuters) - Senator Flavio Bolsonaro declared himself Brazil's rightful leader on Wednesday after arriving in the United States, alleging he was the victim of an electoral coup by the country's Supreme Court and President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, who won the vote by over 4 million votes.
Senator Flavio Bolsonaro, after arriving in the United States, announced on Wednesday that he considers himself Brazil's rightful leader. He criticized the Supreme Court and President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva for allegedly orchestrating an electoral coup. Bolsonaro arrived in Miami after leaving Brazil, where he had refused to comply with a Supreme Court order to surrender his passports.
He expressed gratitude to Argentine President Javier Milei and U.S. President Donald Trump for facilitating his travel and granting entry visas. In an initial open letter on X, Bolsonaro declared himself "the elected president," but later updated it to state that he was "the rightful leader" of Brazil. He accused the alleged perpetrators of a criminal organization that had established a tyranny.
Despite Lula's victory being recognized by Brazil's federal electoral court, global leaders, international observers, and even Bolsonaro's own party, Bolsonaro's declaration creates a challenge for Washington as it seeks to address the growing rift with Brazil, a key Latin American nation with significant rare earth reserves.
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