Flavio Bolsonaro has claimed he remains Brazil’s legitimate president despite losing the election to Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, alleging electoral fraud. After arriving in the US for self-imposed exile, he vowed to lead the opposition as Brazilian authorities clarified he is not a fugitive.

Brasilia: Brazil's defeated right-wing presidential candidate Flavio Bolsonaro maintained on Wednesday that he remains the legitimate head of state following his arrival in the United States to begin a self-imposed exile. His combative declaration underscored ongoing political instability within the nation, where incumbent leftist President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva secured a decisive runoff victory on Sunday.

"I am the elected president, and the criminals who stole Brazil's election are part of a criminal organisation that has established a tyranny," Bolsonaro asserted via an official statement posted on his X account, pointing to alleged ‘electoral fraud’.

"I will lead the opposition from here," he added. In a subsequent release, he adjusted his phrasing, characterising himself as the ‘leader’ rather than the ‘president’.

Bolsonaro, aged 45, landed aboard a private aircraft at Opa-Locka Executive Airport in the vicinity of Miami during the early hours of Wednesday.