Senator Flávio Bolsonaro, President Jair Bolsonaro’s eldest son, on Monday afternoon indirectly recognized his father’s electoral defeat, in the first remarks by a member of the Bolsonaro clan since the results of the presidential election became known on Sunday night.
“Thank you to everyone who helped us rescue patriotism,” he wrote on Twitter. “Let’s hold our heads high and let’s not give up on our Brazil.”
Senator Bolsonaro did not congratulate President-elect Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva or even say his name, but the tone of the message indicates his acknowledgement that his father was defeated in his effort to win re-election.
President Bolsonaro is yet to make a concession speech or publicly acknowledge his defeat. Since poll results started coming in on Sunday evening, he has remained silent. The president left the official residence this Monday and attended meetings at the presidential palace, but did not speak to the press or to the public.
To varying degrees, several of Mr. Bolsonaro’s most prominent allies have already recognized Lula’s victory, as have the Superior Electoral Court, the heads of both the House and Senate, and several major world leaders.
U.S. President Joe Biden spoke on the phone this Monday with Lula. According to the White House, “President Biden commended the strength of Brazilian democratic institutions following free, fair, and credible elections.”
Legislation mandates that a transition team be formed this Tuesday — two working days after the election. The president’s office did not reply to questions sent by The Brazilian Report about the transition.
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