Flávio Bolsonaro seeks annulment of Brazil’s presidential election
By the AFREEQUE newsroom, based on Africanews
Flávio Bolsonaro refused to recognise Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva’s re-election, after he was credited with 51.8% of the vote in Brazil’s second round, and wants to seek the annulment of the election. The extension of voting and transport disruptions fuelled controversy, according to Africanews.
Brazilian senator Flávio Bolsonaro said he would seek to annul the presidential election won by Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, after refusing to recognise his defeat. “It is impossible to recognise the results. I will seek to annul this election,” he said in Brasília, according to Africanews.
Official results gave Lula 51.8% of the vote, against 48.2% for Flávio Bolsonaro, a lead of about 4.4 million votes. Abstention reached 19% in the second round, compared with 21% in the first. The Supreme Court had extended voting by two hours. Flávio Bolsonaro, who had himself requested an extension in some regions because of heavy rain, called the decision “unacceptable” and a “dirty trick”.
The son of former far-right president Jair Bolsonaro, Flávio Bolsonaro won the support of a large share of the conservative electorate. Lula, who is nearly 81, overturned the first-round result after a stronger mobilisation of the left. The president-elect defended the record of his third term, marked by falling inflation and unemployment and millions of people being lifted out of hunger. The cost of living and insecurity nevertheless remained central concerns for voters.
The election also took place amid tensions on social media: Lula’s team accused Meta, the parent company of Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp, of favouring his opponent through alleged algorithmic manipulation. The challenge comes after Lula’s re-election with 51.76% of the vote, announced on 26 October.
