Flavio Bolsonaro declares himself Brazil's rightful leader from Florida

Brazilian Senator Flavio Bolsonaro has rejected President Lula da Silva's election victory, calling it an "electoral coup" and declaring himself Brazil's rightful leader from the United States. He arrived in Florida on Wednesday despite a Supreme Court order to surrender his passports amid corruption investigations. Lula won 51.79 percent of valid votes versus Bolsonaro's 48.21 percent, with Brazil's Superior Electoral Court confirming the result. Bolsonaro traveled via Argentina and Ecuador to reach Florida, while Lula criticized his departure as raising accountability questions. Bolsonaro framed his exit as escaping political persecution. The dispute mirrors Jair Bolsonaro's 2022 post-election flight to Florida; he later returned and was sentenced to 27 years for coup involvement. US President Donald Trump questioned Brazil's election process and welcomed Bolsonaro, with visas granted to him and his family. Bolsonaro's Liberal Party has accepted the outcome, though some allies continue contesting it.