In short
- Flávio Bolsonaro lost Brazil’s presidential run-off to Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva by 4.4 million votes and has not conceded defeat.
- Bolsonaro published a letter on his X account describing himself as ‘leader of Brazil’ and alleging ‘electoral fraud’ without offering evidence.
- Bolsonaro left Brazil on Tuesday after failing to surrender his passports under a Supreme Court order issued as part of a money-laundering investigation; he has not been charged in that probe.
- Analysis by BBC Brazil and BBC Verify found around 34,000 people voted during the extended polling hours, far below the 4.4 million-vote margin between the candidates.
- Bolsonaro’s campaign manager, Rogério Marinho, said on Wednesday that ‘there is no evidence’ of the fraud Bolsonaro alleges, and Bolsonaro’s party recognised the election result.
Flávio Bolsonaro, the defeated candidate in Brazil’s presidential election, has described himself as “leader of Brazil” in a letter published on his X account after leaving the country for the United States. He lost Sunday’s run-off to Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva by 4.4 million votes and has not conceded defeat.
What does Flávio Bolsonaro’s letter say?
The letter opens: “I address the Brazilian people and the international community as the leader of Brazil”. An earlier version, later deleted, said he was addressing them “as the rightful president of Brazil”. Both versions repeat the claim he first made on election night, that an extension of polling hours on Sunday benefited his rival, and describe “an electoral fraud unfolding before my eyes”. No evidence is offered for the allegation.
Bolsonaro writes that he will lead the opposition from the US, that he never intended to leave Brazil and that he is the victim of “political persecution”. The letter ends: “I left Brazil but I haven’t abandoned Brazilians”.
What was the result of Brazil’s run-off?
Lula, the left-wing candidate, defeated Bolsonaro by 4.4 million votes in Sunday’s second round. Bolsonaro has not accepted that outcome, which followed Lula’s run-off win over Bolsonaro.
How did Bolsonaro leave Brazil?
Bolsonaro left Brazil on Tuesday after failing to comply with an order to surrender his passports, a decision Lula described as “a shameful act”. His reported departure from Brazil after the election defeat came after more than 24 hours of confusion over his whereabouts; it later emerged that he had crossed the land border into Argentina and flown on to Florida, with a brief refuelling stop in Ecuador.
Bolsonaro has denied fleeing as he landed in Miami. The Supreme Court order requiring the passports was issued as part of an investigation into alleged money laundering. Bolsonaro has not been charged in that probe, denies any wrongdoing and calls the investigation a “politically-motivated witch hunt”.
Did the extended polling hours change the result?
The extension was requested by both the Lula and Bolsonaro campaign teams, and the head of Brazil’s electoral authority has said the vote proceeded normally and in full accordance with the country’s laws and constitution. Analysis of election data by BBC Brazil and BBC Verify found that around 34,000 people voted during the extended hours, far fewer than the 4.4 million votes that separated the two candidates.
Who has accepted the result?
Bolsonaro’s party recognised the election result. Some of its politicians have described Bolsonaro as a “political exile”, while his campaign manager, Rogério Marinho, said on Wednesday that “there is no evidence” of the electoral fraud Bolsonaro alleges. It is not clear how Bolsonaro plans to lead the opposition from the US, where he intends to stay or for how long.
What has the US said?
The Trump administration has provided visas for Bolsonaro and his family but has not said what kind of visas they are. US President Donald Trump did not explicitly endorse Bolsonaro before the election and told reporters he “won’t get involved” when asked about the fraud allegations, having said earlier in the week that “it looked like another rigged election” without providing evidence. On Thursday, Trump told reporters that “the election was a very great embarrassment to the people of Brazil”.
Bolsonaro’s younger brother, Eduardo, has been in self-imposed exile in the US since March 2025, saying he was the victim of political persecution. The two siblings posted a photo of themselves holding a Brazilian flag on Wednesday.
Frequently asked questions
Has Flávio Bolsonaro conceded Brazil’s presidential election?
No. He lost the run-off to Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva by 4.4 million votes and has not conceded, alleging electoral fraud without providing evidence.
Why did Flávio Bolsonaro have to hand over his passports?
A Supreme Court order issued as part of an investigation into alleged money laundering required him to surrender his passports to police. He has not been charged in that investigation and denies wrongdoing.
Where is Flávio Bolsonaro now?
He travelled to Florida, crossing the land border into Argentina and flying on with a refuelling stop in Ecuador. The US has issued visas to him and his family, but it is not clear where he intends to stay or for how long.
Did the longer polling hours affect the result?
Analysis by BBC Brazil and BBC Verify found around 34,000 people voted during the extended hours, compared with the 4.4 million votes separating the two candidates. Both campaigns had requested the extension.
With reporting from BBC News.
Stock image, not from the events described. Globe World — Jo%E3o%20Silas / Wikimedia Commons (CC0 1.0)