The defeated candidate in Brazil’s presidential election, Flávio Bolsonaro, has referred to himself as “leader of Brazil” in a letter he published on social media after leaving the country for the United States.
Bolsonaro lost to his left-wing rival, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, in the run-off on Sunday by a difference of 4.4 million votes, but has not conceded defeat.
In the letter, Bolsonaro alleges, without offering evidence, that he was the victim of “electoral fraud” and says that he will lead the opposition from the US.
He left Brazil on Tuesday after failing to comply with an order to surrender his passports, a decision which Lula described as “a shameful act”.
Bolsonaro starts his letter, which he posted on his X account, saying “I address the Brazilian people and the international community as the leader of Brazil”.
However, he had posted a previous version, that was later deleted, in which he wrote: “I address the Brazilian people and the international community as the rightful president of Brazil.”
Both versions repeat the allegation that Bolsonaro first made on election night, that an extension of polling hours on Sunday had benefited his rival.
In the letter, he says it was “an electoral fraud unfolding before my eyes”.
The extension was requested by both Lula’s and Bolsonaro’s campaign teams, and the head of Brazil’s electoral authority has said that the vote proceeded normally and in full accordance with the country’s laws and constitution.
An analysis of election data conducted by BBC Brazil and BBC Verify has also found that only around 34,000 people voted during the extended hours – far lower than the 4.4 million votes that separated Lula from Bolsonaro.
In his letter, Bolsonaro also addresses his departure from Brazil – which caused confusion after he disappeared for more than 24 hours.
It later emerged that he had gone across the land border to Argentina, and from there flew on to Florida, following a brief refuelling stop in Ecuador.