Brasilia, Oct. 28 -- Brazil's defeated right-wing presidential candidate Flavio Bolsonaro maintained on Wednesday that he remains the legitimate head of state following his arrival in the United States to begin a self-imposed exile. His combative declaration underscored ongoing political instability within the nation, where incumbent leftist President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva secured a decisive runoff victory on Sunday.

"I am the elected president, and the criminals who stole Brazil's election are part of a criminal organisation that has established a tyranny," Bolsonaro asserted via an official statement posted on his X account, pointing to alleged 'electoral fraud'.

"I will lead the opposition from here," he added. In a subsequent re...