Flávio Bolsonaro says the runoff result cannot be recognized and that he will seek annulment
Flávio BolsonaroSenator for Rio de Janeiro and Liberal Party presidential candidate, speaking to reporters in Brasília
Flávio Bolsonaro says it is impossible to recognize the runoff result after Justice Zanin extended voting, says his legal team will ask for the election to be annulled, and says he will not accept rules changed in the middle of the game by Lula's friends on the Supreme Federal Court.
“It is impossible, it is impossible to recognize the result of the elections in the context in which these things happened. We are going to use our legal team, we are going to ask for the annulment of these elections. I will not accept that the rules of the game were changed in the middle of the game, once again, by Lula's friends on the Supreme Federal Court. (Translated from Portuguese. Original: é impossível, é impossível reconhecer o resultado das eleições no contexto como essas coisas aconteceram. Nós vamos usar o nosso jurídico, vamos pedir a anulação dessas eleições. Não vou aceitar que a regra do jogo tenha sido mudada em cima do jogo, mais uma vez, pelos amigos do Lula do Supremo Tribunal Federal)”
Reporting
Analysis
Where this statement fits
Flávio Bolsonaro vows to seek annulment of Brazil's runoff over a two-hour voting extension; his party recognizes Lula's win
After losing Brazil's October 25, 2026, presidential runoff to Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva by about 4.4 million votes, Senator Flávio Bolsonaro said it was impossible to recognize the result and that his campaign would seek to annul the election. He objected to Supreme Federal Court Justice Cristiano Zanin's order extending voting by two hours, which Lula's coalition had requested. His Liberal Party recognized the result the next day. President Donald Trump said the vote looked rigged, and Vice President Geraldo Alckmin called that remark totally wrong.
Source and context
Reporting
About this source
Gazeta do Povo report on Flávio Bolsonaro's statement in Brasília on the night of the October 25, 2026, presidential runoff, with the full text of his remarks in Portuguese. It describes Justice Cristiano Zanin's order extending voting by two hours, the vote totals and his own campaign's earlier request to the electoral court for a longer voting day in several cities because of rain.
Archived copy (opens in a new tab)Analysis
About this source
Aos Fatos fact-check of Flávio Bolsonaro's October 25 statement. It sets out the times of the extension requests by both campaigns, Justice Zanin's first order at 5:03 p.m. and his later clarification, and the electoral court's statement that Liberal Party inspectors were in other rooms at its headquarters on election day.
Archived copy (opens in a new tab)Before the quotation
Speaking after the count showed Lula re-elected, Flávio Bolsonaro says Justice Zanin, a former lawyer for Lula who is not part of the Superior Electoral Court, extended voting by two hours at 5:01 p.m., and that this broke equality among Brazilians in different cities and states.
After the quotation
He then says Liberal Party inspectors were removed from the electoral court's secure computer room once the decision was made. The electoral court told Aos Fatos that two of the party's inspectors were at its headquarters that day, in the totalization room and the parties' room, and that the secure room is not open to the public.
How this statement is classified
The label describes this statement's response within the context above.
Why this label?
The case concerns Justice Zanin's October 25 order extending voting by two hours and whether it taints the runoff result. Flávio Bolsonaro calls the order a change to the rules in the middle of the game and says he will seek annulment, which condemns it.
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More from this case
Read the full caseLiberal Party recognizes the presidential result and says the questions raised need clarifying
Partido Liberal (Brazil)
“We recognize the presidential result, proclaimed by the Superior Electoral Court (TSE), but we understand that the questions raised need to be properly clarified within a balanced and democratic political debate. (Translated from Portuguese. Original: Reconhecemos o resultado presidencial, proclamado pelo Tribunal Superior Eleitoral (TSE), mas entendemos que os questionamentos levantados precisam ser devidamente esclarecidos dentro de um debate político equilibrado e democrático.)”Read statement
Alckmin calls Trump's remark about Brazil's election totally wrong
“Look, totally wrong, right? First, you do not interfere in another country's politics. That is a basic rule. Second, there is no basis for saying that. In fact, Brazil is an example to the world in electronic voting and legal certainty. That is how democracy is. You win an election, you lose an election, it is the people who decide. (Translated from Portuguese. Original: Olha, totalmente equivocada, né? Primeiro não se interfere na política de outro país. Essa é uma regra basilar. Segundo, não tem nenhum referencial para dizer isso. Aliás, o Brasil é um exemplo para o mundo de urna eletrônica, de segurança jurídica. Democracia é assim. Você ganha eleição, você perde a eleição, é o povo que decide)”Read statement
Trump says Brazil's runoff looked like another rigged election
“I didn't take sides, but it looked like another rigged election”Read statement
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The Dispute Index. "Flávio Bolsonaro says the runoff result cannot be recognized and that he will seek annulment". First published: 2026-10-31. Last updated: 2026-10-31. https://disputeindex.com/events/7432-fl%C3%A1vio-bolsonaro-says-it-is-impossible-to-recognize