By Ahmed Abdelsalam
Defeated Brazilian presidential candidate Flavio Bolsonaro arrived in the United States late Tuesday, defying a court order to surrender his passports within 24 hours as part of a corruption investigation into alleged money laundering. The right-wing politician, son of jailed former president Jair Bolsonaro, landed in Miami and was received by his brother Eduardo, according to sources cited by the BBC and Brazil's O Globo newspaper.
Trump Administration Grants Visas
The Trump administration announced it would grant visas to Bolsonaro and his family, facilitating their entry. Donald Trump told reporters Wednesday he "approves" of Bolsonaro coming to the US, describing the family as "fine people." Trump said he knew both Bolsonaro and his rival, President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, but did not formally endorse Bolsonaro ahead of Sunday's election.
Election Defeat and Legal Pressure
Bolsonaro lost the presidential election with 48.25 percent of the vote to Lula's 51.75 percent, giving Lula a historic fourth term. Bolsonaro's eight-year Senate term expires on January 31, 2027, which would strip him of special jurisdiction at the Supreme Court. Police said he failed to comply with the passport surrender order, which he denies.
Refusal to Concede
Bolsonaro has not officially conceded defeat, saying Sunday he would seek annulment of the result over alleged voter irregularities, citing a Supreme Court justice's decision to extend voting by two hours. His Liberal Party acknowledged Lula's victory on Monday. Analysts say high voter turnout may have secured Lula's win on the eve of his 81st birthday.
Following Father's Path
The move mirrors former President Jair Bolsonaro, who fled to the United States after refusing to concede the 2022 election to Lula. The elder Bolsonaro later returned to Brazil and was sentenced to 27 years for plotting a coup. Flavio Bolsonaro posted a video Monday saying he "never thought about leaving the country" and was organizing congressional opposition to the results.
International Movements
Argentina confirmed Bolsonaro and his family briefly entered via a land border crossing Tuesday night before departing on a flight bound for Ecuador. The Ecuadorian government has not commented. Argentine President Javier Milei's spokesperson said there was no asylum request. Lula called Bolsonaro's exit "shameful" and said he should have stayed to prove his innocence.
