Senator Flavio Bolsonaro, the eldest son of former president Jair Bolsonaro, has become the target of intense public mockery after declaring himself the "true president" of Brazil from Florida. The 45-year-old politician, who fled to the United States following his election defeat to leftist incumbent Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, issued a series of confusing statements on social media that have drawn widespread derision, disbelief, and disapproval even among his own political allies. The viral wave of mockery saw one influencer declare himself the "true president" of Twitter and another user proclaim himself the winner of the next lottery, all in direct response to the senator's claims.
The controversy began when Flavio Bolsonaro posted a statement shortly after arriving in Florida, claiming to be the "true president" of the country. Within minutes, the wording was revised to describe him as the "leader" of Brazil. An ally who published an earlier version of the document, which featured a coat of arms abandoned in the 1960s, attributed the error to ChatGPT. The senator had previously left Brazil in a cloak-and-dagger operation, sneaking out via Argentina and Ecuador after being ordered to surrender his passports due to several ongoing investigations against him.
In Brazil, the media reacted with sharp criticism, with the O Globo daily describing the senator as a "lunatic asylum Napoleon" and the Folha de Sao Paulo newspaper labeling the statement as "pathetic." Politicians from across the political spectrum denounced the move as "coup-mongering," urging respect for the sovereign election results. Tarcisio de Freitas, the powerful governor of Sao Paulo and a former minister under Jair Bolsonaro, quickly distanced himself from the rhetoric. "We are democrats. The election result is sovereign. What we have seen is the will of the majority of the population, which must be respected," De Freitas said in an interview with the Estadao daily. As speculation turned to who might lead the right-wing with Flavio out of the country, the governor noted that a 2030 run was "a possibility."
Rogerio Marinho, who coordinated Flavio Bolsonaro's campaign, stated there was "no evidence" of electoral fraud, a claim previously made by the defeated candidate. Furthermore, electoral court chief Kassio Nunes Marques, who was appointed to the Supreme Court by Jair Bolsonaro, issued a statement highlighting the "secure electoral process." Despite the backlash, Flavio Bolsonaro indicated he intended to lead the opposition from abroad. Political scientist Geraldo Monteiro of the State University of Rio de Janeiro suggested the move might be a calculated effort to maintain conservative influence, though he expressed doubt about its effectiveness. "I do not believe he has the means to lead the opposition from afar, as the newly elected officials have already secured their seats and no longer need him," Monteiro said. He added that the letter has created a divide between those committed to "extreme loyalty" and those who "prefer not to embark on another putschist adventure."
The stakes remain high, as the Liberal Party (PL) will hold the largest number of seats in Congress starting in February. On Thursday, PL leader Valdemar Costa Neto visited Jair Bolsonaro, who is currently serving a 27-year sentence for plotting a coup following his 2022 election loss to Lula. "No one approves" of the letter, Neto said as he left the meeting, adding that the party needed to "move forward."
