Flávio Bolsonaro, senator for the Liberal Party (PL) and presidential candidate, has declared that he cannot recognize the results of Brazil’s second‑round presidential election, in which Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva was declared the winner. Bolsonaro cited a decision by a judge to extend the voting period by two hours at the request of Lula’s campaign as the reason for his objection. The judge’s ruling, which applied to the final hours of voting on Sunday, was intended to accommodate additional voters who had been unable to cast their ballots during the regular hours. Bolsonaro said, “It is impossible to recognize the victory of President Lula da Silva in the second round of the presidential election,” and indicated that he would seek to annul the results. Lula’s victory was confirmed by the electoral authority, which announced that he had received 51.3% of the valid votes, surpassing the 50% threshold required to win outright. The election, held on October 5, 2024, was the first time Lula had run for president since his previous terms in the 2000s and early 2010s. Bolsonaro’s statement comes amid a broader dispute over the conduct of the election, with opposition parties and candidates questioning the fairness of the process. The PL has called for a review of the vote count and the procedures used during the campaign.
Article source: El Comercio | Image credit: El Comercio