Flavio Bolsonaro Declares Himself Brazil's Leader From US, Drawing 2030 Succession Talk
Updated
Updated · Yahoo! Voices · Oct 29
Flavio Bolsonaro Declares Himself Brazil's Leader From US, Drawing 2030 Succession Talk
3 articles · Updated · Yahoo! Voices · Oct 29
Summary
Hours after arriving in Florida, 45-year-old Flavio Bolsonaro posted that he was Brazil’s “true president,” then revised it to “leader,” saying he would direct the opposition from abroad.
The declaration followed his election loss to Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva and his flight from Brazil via Argentina and Ecuador after authorities ordered him to surrender his passports amid ongoing investigations.
Brazilian media branded the message coup-tinged and pathetic, while allies moved to contain the fallout: campaign coordinator Rogerio Marinho said there was no evidence of fraud, and electoral court chief Kassio Nunes Marques defended the voting system.
Sao Paulo Governor Tarcisio de Freitas distanced himself, said the result must be respected, and called a 2030 presidential run “a possibility” as the right began looking past Bolsonaro.
Despite the backlash, Bolsonaro’s Liberal Party will still hold the largest bloc in Congress from February, sharpening the fight over whether he can keep influence from exile.