Brazil's Bolsonaro challenges election loss, files petition demanding votes be annulled - CNN

CNN  — 

Outgoing Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro has filed a petition with Brazil predetermination authorities formally contesting the results of this year’s fiercely contested presidential vote.

Bolsonaro narrowly mislaid a run-off ballot past period to leftist rival Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, popularly known arsenic “Lula,” who is owed to beryllium inaugurated arsenic president connected January 1.

Since past Bolsonaro has stopped abbreviated of explicitly conceding that helium lost, but has antecedently said helium would “continue to fulfill each commandments of the constitution” – starring observers to judge that helium would cooperate with the transportation of power.

But successful the petition filed connected Tuesday, Bolsonaro and the person of his right-wing Liberal Party allege that immoderate voting machines had malfunctioned and immoderate votes formed done them should beryllium annulled.

Citing investigation done by a institution hired by Bolsonaro’s party, the ailment claims that removing those votes would manus Bolsonaro victory.

Responding to Bolsonaro’s petition, predetermination authorities said that since the aforesaid voting machines were utilized successful the archetypal circular of elections, Bolsonaro and his enactment indispensable amend their ailment to see those results successful bid for the process to marque its mode done the courts, affiliate CNN Brasil reported.

Alexandre Moraes, main justness of the Supreme Electoral Court, gave Bolsonaro and his petitioners 24 hours to amend their submission.

But connected Wednesday, Bolsonaro’s Liberal Party responded requesting that the scope stay constricted to second-round voting.

Liberal Party officials besides held a property league successful which they doubled down connected claims that immoderate ballots utilized successful the 2nd circular of elections could beryllium liable to error, but claimed they did not purpose to contention the results.

“We bash not mean to halt anyone from taking office, conscionable that they travel the law. If determination are indications [of error], this ballot cannot beryllium taken into account,” said Liberal Party President Valdemar Costa Neto.

“We are not asking for a caller election, that would beryllium crazy,” helium added.

Last month’s heated predetermination came amid a tense and polarized governmental clime successful Brazil, which has been struggling with precocious inflation, constricted maturation and rising poverty.

Lula da Silva received much than 60 cardinal votes – according to the predetermination authority’s last tally – the astir successful Brazilian past and breaking his ain grounds from 2006.