saw a BBC article on the election, apparently he claimed that the only reason he didnt completely rule the first round was because of tampering with the voting machines
Which shows what we're dealing with. There was no tampering, but a whole lot of fake news plus the stupid biometric system not working right and causing huge delays (which were obviously held by fascists on site as proof of tampering).
It also sounds like it's the first time (from either the BBC article or The Guardian liveblog) Brazil has used the electronic voting machines on such a wide scale and so, they're still working out the kinks.
Really though, it's just him using a trump-like excuse to explain away the votes not quite getting to 50%.
Anyways, does he REALLY have the capability to do a self-coup (in his running-mates words)? Putting aside the possibility of some idiots getting the idea into their head and attempting one on behalf of Bolsonaro, does the Brazilian military have the same kind of integrity as the US one does where I know with absolutely no doubt that they'll support whoever wins? I'm open to the possibility that they're just bullshitting, but given that coups have happened (fomented by the US, yes, yes, I KNOW) and given what I don't know and the fact that Bolsonaro has a sizeable following in the military...
You don't seem too worried about him actually trying as far as I can tell, but I don't know what you know that makes you not too worried about it.