Image source, Getty Images

Image caption, Flávio Bolsonaro arrived in Florida on Wednesday

By Vanessa Buschschlüter

Latin America online editor

The defeated candidate in Brazil's presidential election, Flávio Bolsonaro, has referred to himself as "leader of Brazil" in a letter he published on social media after leaving the country for the United States.

Bolsonaro lost to his left-wing rival, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, in the run-off on Sunday by a difference of 4.4 million votes, but has not conceded defeat.

In the letter, Bolsonaro alleges, without offering evidence, that he was the victim of "electoral fraud" and says that he will lead the opposition from the US.

He left Brazil on Tuesday after failing to comply with an order to surrender his passports, a decision which Lula described as "a shameful act".

Figure caption, Watch: Has Flávio Bolsonaro left Brazil to evade justice?

Bolsonaro starts his letter, which he posted on his X account, saying "I address the Brazilian people and the…