Brazil Election Fallout: Bolsonaro Passport Seized, Exit Banned

Rio de Janeiro, October 27

A Brazilian Supreme Court judge has ordered defeated presidential candidate Flavio Bolsonaro to surrender his passport to the Federal Police and barred him from leaving the country, in a move that comes days after a closely watched runoff.

Judge Alexandre de Moraes issued the order, which is confidential and forms part of a probe involving Flavio Bolsonaro and lawyer Viller Tomaz, according to Brazilian media and state news reports.

The judge has also prohibited contact between Flavio Bolsonaro and Tomaz. Investigators are examining allegations of money laundering and illegal foreign currency transactions against both men.

Incumbent President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva won Sunday's presidential runoff. Results released by the Superior Electoral Court that night showed him with 51.79 percent of valid votes, while Flavio Bolsonaro took 48.21 percent.

In Brasilia, Flavio Bolsonaro said it was 'impossible' to accept the result. He called for the vote to be cancelled, claiming that the decision to extend polling time had treated voters unequally.

On Sunday, the Supreme Court had approved a two-hour extension of voting at polling stations nationwide, citing transport problems and heavy rain. The extra time applied only to stations still operating when the order was issued, and those that had already shut were not reopened.

Flavio Bolsonaro said voters in those areas were affected and that his legal team would challenge the results in court.

The electoral system requires a second round when no candidate secures more than half of valid votes in the first round. Flavio Bolsonaro had led that October 4 vote with about 47 percent, while Lula da Silva had about 45 percent.

Lula da Silva overturned that lead in the final round, winning the election and securing another term as president.