Bolsonaro's Political Allies Abandon Him, Urging Brazil to Move Forward

Brazilian Senator Flavio Bolsonaro, who lost the presidential runoff this week, fled to the United States on October 28 and declared himself Brazil's true legitimate leader in an open letter on social media platform X, but his political allies in Brazil have rejected the claim, saying it is time for the country to move forward. President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva's reelection has been recognized by Brazil's electoral authorities, global leaders, international observers, and even Bolsonaro's own Liberal Party (PL). PL leader Valdemar Costa Neto said he disliked the letter and did not endorse its content, while São Paulo Governor Tarcísio de Freitas stressed that the election result must be respected. Several centrist and center-right parties that supported Bolsonaro in the runoff, including the Brazilian Democratic Movement and Brazil Union, reaffirmed confidence in the electoral system and the legitimacy of the October 25 result. Bolsonaro's campaign manager, Senator Rogério Marinho, denied fraud allegations, calling the claims an emotional reaction, though he still called Bolsonaro an important right-wing leader.