Bolsonaro yet to concede as world leaders congratulate Lula on Brazil election win
Congratulations for Lula have poured in from foreign leaders
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Brazil’s outgoing president Jair Bolsonaro has yet to concede defeat in the presidential election following the astonishing victory of his leftist rival, former president Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva.
Bolsonaro’s silence has raised fears that he might contest Lula’s victory, having repeatedly hinted he might not accept defeat.
Congratulations poured in from foreign leaders including prime minister Rishi Sunak and US president Joe Biden, who called the election “free, fair and credible”.
China’s Xi Jinping, Russia’s Vladimir Putin, German chancellor Olaf Scholz and French president Emmanuel Macron all stepped forward to hail Lula’s return to politics.
Bolsonaro has not, however, spoken publicly since tweeting a passage from the book of Ephesians — a rallying cry to put on the “armour of God” in order to be able to “stand against the wiles of the devil” – just before midnight on Sunday.
Bolsonaro left his residence on Monday morning and headed to the presidential palace, but had still not made any public comments. He is the first Brazilian incumbent to lose a presidential election.
Lula has vowed to overturn his legacy, including pro-gun policies and weak protection of the Amazon rainforest.
“I don’t know if he will call or if he will recognise my victory,” Lula said in a speech to supporters on Sao Paulo’s Paulista Avenue.
A source in the Bolsonaro campaign, however, told Reuters that the president would not make public remarks until Monday.
In a sign that Bolsonaro’s influence is beginning to dwindle, a number of key allies have publicly accepted the result which saw Lula receive 60.3m votes to the current president’s 58.2m.
The recently elected governor of São Paulo Tarcísio de Freitas, a keen supporter of Bolsonaro recognised Lula’s win, told reporters: “The election result is sovereign.”
Another close ally, lower house leader Arthur Lira, said: “The will of the majority, expressed at the polls, should never be challenged.”
Sergio Moro, a judge who controversially jailed Lula in the lead-up to the 2018 election before being offered a job in Bolsonaro’s cabinet, has also recognised Lula’s win.
“Thus is democracy,” he tweeted.
Taking to Twitter, Ricardo Salles, Bolsonaro’s former environment minister said: “The result of the most polarized election in Brazil’s history prompts many reflections and the need to seek ways to pacify a country that is literally split in half. Now is the time for serenity.”
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments