Flavio Bolsonaro claims he is the ‘elected president’ of Brazil after arriving in US; vows to lead opposition from abroad

Flavio Bolsonaro claimed to be Brazil’s “true president” after fleeing to Florida, vowing to lead the opposition despite losing to Lula da Silva. Brazilian right-wing Senator Flavio Bolsonaro issued a statement after arriving in Florida Wednesday saying that he is the “elected president” of Brazil. The 45-year-old, who lost to incumbent Lula da Silva in Brazil's presidential elections on October 25, added that he will continue to lead the opposition in the country from the US.Flavio Bolsonaro arrives in the US after fleeing Brazil. (AFP)"I am the elected president, and the criminals who stole Brazil's election are part of a criminal organization that has established a tyranny," Bolsonaro said on X. "I will lead the opposition from here."Bolsonaro lost in the elections to Lula da Silva by over 4 million votes. He has continued to question the legitimacy of the elections after Brazil's Supreme Court extended voting by two hours following complaints by Lula's campaign that voters could not reach the polling booths due to problems with public transport.Deep DiveAfter the election results, the Brazilian Supreme Court asked Flavio Bolsonaro to surrender his passports in relation to an alleged money laundering investigation. A day after, Bolsonaro and his family secretly left for the US and landed Wednesday morning at the Opa-Locka Executive Airport in Miami. AFP reported that the plane arrived in Miami after brief stops at Argentina and Ecuador.The US said that Bolsonaro and his family will be granted political asylum in the country.This story is being updated.Follow the latest breaking news, major developments and agenda-setting stories from India and around the world with the newsdesk at Hindustan Times. Operating round the clock, the desk brings together experienced editors, reporters and correspondents to deliver fast, accurate and contextual reporting across subjects that influence public policy, governance, business, society and international affairs. The HT News Desk covers politics, elections, government policies, the economy, business and markets, science and technology, the environment, law and order, infrastructure, education, climate issues and geopolitics, while closely tracking developments across states, institutions and global capitals. The team also leads coverage of major breaking news events, policy announcements, court proceedings, natural disasters, public emergencies and significant international developments. Reports published by the newsdesk are based on information gathered from reporters on the ground, official statements, government agencies, court records, regulatory filings, recognised institutions and other authoritative sources. Stories undergo editorial scrutiny and verification processes to ensure accuracy, fairness and relevance, and are updated as events evolve and additional information becomes available. Whether covering a key political decision in New Delhi, an economic policy shift affecting millions, a landmark court ruling or a major global event, the HT News Desk aims to provide readers with reliable, fact-based journalism that delivers not only the latest developments but also the context and analysis needed to understand their wider implications.Read MoreBrazil's LulaBrazilElectionGet the latest World News, breaking headlines and global updates from the US, UK, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Russia and other countries. Follow major international events on Hindustan Times.