Trump calls Brazil election ‘rigged’ after Lula defeats ally Bolsonaro
His remarks came after Flávio Bolsonaro, the 45-year-old senator and son of former president Jair Bolsonaro, called for the runoff result to be annulled.
US president Donald Trump claimed Brazil’s presidential election looked “rigged” and “so corrupt” after incumbent Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva defeated his right-wing ally Flávio Bolsonaro, raising questions over how Washington will respond to the result. “It looked like another rigged election, frankly,” Trump said. Trump described the extension as “very strange” and cited it as a reason the election had a “very bad look”.
Trump, speaking to reporters as he left Washington for a campaign rally ahead of next week’s US midterm elections, criticised the counting process and a last-minute decision to extend voting hours across Brazil. “It was a terrible look for the world. Trump did not provide evidence to support his claims of irregularities. The challenge is considered unlikely to overturn Lula’s victory. Lula’s request followed problems involving buses transporting voters in nine states, while Bolsonaro cited heavy rain in southern Brazil. However, he did not present evidence that the decision or the vote count had altered the outcome. Flávio Bolsonaro’s demand to annul the result echoes efforts by his father to challenge his defeat in Brazil’s previous presidential election. Jair Bolsonaro was later convicted of plotting a coup after his supporters stormed government buildings in an attempt to overturn the result.
Brazil’s Supreme Court ordered voting to be extended nationwide by two hours on Sunday after both candidates sought additional time in some areas.