Bolsonaro’s party accepts Brazil election after Trump calls vote ‘rigged’
Trump pushes unsubstantiated claims about Brazil's presidential vote but says he 'didn't take sides' in the race.
Key points
- The Liberal Party of Senator Flavio Bolsonaro accepted Brazil's presidential run-off result on Monday, though Bolsonaro himself has not conceded.
- Bolsonaro lost to incumbent President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva by more than 4.4 million votes and has vowed to seek the election's annulment.
- US President Donald Trump told reporters the vote seemed "rigged" but said he did not take sides.
The political party of Senator Flavio Bolsonaro acknowledged the result of Brazil's presidential run-off on Monday, even as the right-wing candidate pledged to annul the outcome. Valdemar Costa Neto, leader of the right-wing Liberal Party, issued a statement saying the party accepted the vote.
On Sunday, Bolsonaro was defeated by left-wing incumbent President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva by a margin of more than 4.4 million votes. Bolsonaro has yet to formally concede and, in a post-election speech, called the results "unacceptable" and said he would request an annulment.
Party backs result with caveats
Costa Neto said the party recognized the presidential election results but echoed Bolsonaro's concerns. "We recognise the presidential election results," he said. "But we believe the issues raised need to be properly clarified."
Bolsonaro cited a last-minute extension to voting hours as grounds for his challenge. Supreme Court Justice Cristiano Zanin granted the two-hour extension after both campaigns sought it for different reasons; Bolsonaro pointed to Zanin's past role as Lula's personal lawyer.
We recognise the presidential election results. But we believe the issues raised need to be properly clarified.
— Valdemar Costa Neto
Skepticism and next steps
An analysis by Pedro Burgos of the Brazilian institute Insper found the extension produced 35,000 additional votes, less than 0.03 percent of the total, far short of Lula's advantage. Lula won more than 64.25 million votes to Bolsonaro's 59.83 million.
Folha de S Paulo reported that advisers have convinced Bolsonaro to abandon the annulment effort. Bolsonaro also said federal police asked him to hand over his passports and that he would comply, adding he plans to "organise the opposition".
