"Flávio has given up. He's terrified. He is worried his father will die in jail, that he himself will be jailed this week and that he may have a long prison term ahead."
That assessment, given to The Washington Post by a Bolsonaro family adviser, comes as Flávio Bolsonaro abandons his attempt to invalidate Brazil's presidential runoff following his defeat to Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva.
The retreat marks a reversal for the right-wing candidate, who had initially rejected Sunday's result and demanded that the election be annulled.
Rather than seek to overturn the entire vote, Bolsonaro is now preparing a separate legal challenge aimed at disqualifying Lula and his running mate.
Bolsonaro Drops Annulment Demand
Bolsonaro changed course on Monday, October 26, a day after the runoff and shortly after U.S. President Donald Trump questioned the election's conduct.
His new strategy centers on allegations that Lula exploited the advantages of incumbency, including increases in social benefits close to election day.
The proposed lawsuit would seek to disqualify the Lula-Alckmin ticket rather than invalidate the nationwide vote. Such legal challenges rarely succeed.
Bolsonaro continued to reject the legitimacy of his defeat despite abandoning the annulment effort.
"I wasn't the one who lost; the system won," he said, pledging to use his position in Congress to organize opposition to the incoming administration.
Valdemar Costa Neto, president of Bolsonaro's Liberal Party, meanwhile formally acknowledged Lula's victory while criticizing government spending before the election.
Supreme Court Tightens Restrictions
Bolsonaro's reversal coincided with an escalation in legal pressure from Brazil's Supreme Federal Court (STF).
On Monday, Justice Alexandre de Moraes ordered him to surrender his ordinary and diplomatic passports within 24 hours, invalidated the documents and prohibited him from leaving Brazil.
The ruling also barred contact with lawyer Willer Tomaz, whose name appears in one of the investigations involving Bolsonaro.
Bolsonaro said he would follow the order but disputed the implication that he might attempt to escape the country. He characterized the restrictions as intimidation.
He also linked the decision partly to an earlier statement by his brother Eduardo Bolsonaro suggesting that he should leave Brazil in the event of defeat.
The former presidential candidate is the subject of at least two STF investigations and denies wrongdoing.
One concerns suspected money laundering connected to Tomaz, betting businesses and an offshore entity, Alcazar Holdings.
The other examines the financing of Dark Horse, a film about former president Jair Bolsonaro, including alleged connections involving Daniel Vorcaro and Banco Master.
The proceedings add to the family's legal difficulties. Jair Bolsonaro remains under house arrest following his conviction over an attempt to overturn the 2022 presidential election, for which he received a sentence of approximately 27 years.
Lula Wins By More Than 4 Million Votes
Lula secured approximately 51.79% of the October 25 runoff, equivalent to 64.26 million votes, against Bolsonaro's 48.21%, or about 59.83 million.
The difference of roughly 4.43 million votes delivered Lula a fourth, non-consecutive presidential term.
The outcome reversed the positions from the October 4 first round, when Bolsonaro finished ahead with approximately 47.03% against Lula's 45.16%.
It was the first time since Brazil resumed direct presidential elections that a candidate finishing second in the opening round had won the runoff.
Foreign leaders moved quickly to recognize Lula's victory, while Brazilian financial markets and the real reacted negatively.
Dispute Over Extended Voting
Bolsonaro's initial annulment demand focused on a decision by STF Justice Cristiano Zanin to extend polling nationwide by two hours because of transportation difficulties.
Zanin previously served as Lula's lawyer, a connection Bolsonaro highlighted when criticizing the decision.
Both presidential campaigns had requested additional voting time.
Bolsonaro nevertheless portrayed the extension as an unfair alteration of electoral procedures, calling it an "outrage" and accusing Lula's allies of changing the rules during the contest.
Approximately 34,000 to 35,000 votes were recorded during the additional period, a fraction of Lula's winning margin.
Kassio Nunes Marques, the head of Brazil's electoral court and a judicial appointee of Jair Bolsonaro, concluded that the extension had not changed the outcome.
Trump Questions Election, Stops Short Of Intervention
Trump added to the controversy on Monday by questioning the credibility of the Brazilian vote.
Speaking to reporters, he suggested that the election appeared manipulated and described the extended polling period as unusual, without presenting evidence.
He also distanced himself from direct involvement in the dispute, emphasizing that he had not endorsed either candidate and expressing a favorable view of Lula.
His remarks preceded Bolsonaro's decision to withdraw the annulment demand.
The defeated candidate's remaining legal strategy now targets Lula's eligibility, while his own movements are restricted and Supreme Court investigations continue.
No comments:
Post a Comment
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.