Flávio Bolsonaro Flees to US After Losing Brazil’s Presidential Election

Key points

• The US State Department confirmed it would issue visas to Flávio Bolsonaro and his family, allowing entry into the United States despite his ongoing corruption investigations in Brazil.
• Bolsonaro defied a Supreme Court order to surrender his passports within 24 hours, leading to their cancellation by federal police. He has not conceded defeat to Lula and has made unsubstantiated allegations of election fraud.
• Lula condemned Bolsonaro’s departure as 'shameful,' stating that Brazil is the Bolsonaro family’s 'second homeland' and that those who secretly leave the country are liable for something. Bolsonaro’s campaign manager, Rogério Marinho, expressed surprise at the move, stating that the party had planned for Bolsonaro to lead the opposition from Brazil.
• Bolsonaro is under investigation by Brazil’s Supreme Court for alleged corruption, money laundering, and tax evasion in two cases. One case involves a sports betting company, and the other involves accepting millions of dollars from a disgraced banker. He has denied any wrongdoing in both cases.
• Bolsonaro’s brother, Eduardo Bolsonaro, who lives in Texas, had publicly encouraged him to leave Brazil if he lost the election. Eduardo was convicted in absentia in June of illegally lobbying the Trump administration and sentenced to four years in prison. A warrant was recently issued for his arrest.

Background

Flávio Bolsonaro’s flight to the US mirrors actions taken by his father, former President Jair Bolsonaro, after losing the 2022 presidential election. Jair Bolsonaro fled Brazil for Florida, where he remained for three months. During that time, hundreds of his supporters stormed the seats of power in the capital Brasília, vandalizing the supreme court, congress, and presidential palace in an attack reminiscent of the insurrection on the US Capitol in 2021. Bolsonaro and his allies’ efforts to overturn the 2022 election results led to the former president being sentenced to 27 years in prison. Trump, a prominent supporter of the Bolsonaro family, briefly imposed tariffs on Brazil in response to the criminal case against Jair.

How outlets are covering it

AP News reported that the US State Department confirmed it would issue visas to Flávio Bolsonaro and his family, allowing entry into the United States. CNN reported that Trump approved allowing Bolsonaro entry into the US, and that a Brazilian source close to Bolsonaro said the politician had feared arrest in Brazil. The Guardian reported that Bolsonaro’s allies told Metrópoles that he would land in Florida on Tuesday afternoon and planned to request political asylum. Lula condemned Bolsonaro’s departure as 'shameful,' while Bolsonaro’s campaign manager, Rogério Marinho, expressed surprise at the move, stating that the party had planned for Bolsonaro to lead the opposition from Brazil. Bolsonaro’s brother, Eduardo Bolsonaro, called rumors that his brother had fled a 'lie.'

Why it matters

Flávio Bolsonaro’s flight to the US highlights the ongoing tensions between Brazil and the US, as well as the political instability in Brazil following the presidential election. The move also raises questions about the US government’s willingness to grant visas to individuals under investigation for corruption in other countries. Bolsonaro’s departure may also have implications for the future of the far-right movement in Brazil, as his brother Eduardo Bolsonaro is in self-imposed exile in the US and his father Jair Bolsonaro is under house arrest for attempting a coup.

What to watch

It remains unclear where Bolsonaro landed in the US or if he and his family are en route to the country. Brazilian authorities are investigating his whereabouts, and there are no warrants for his arrest at the time of his departure. However, legal analysts suggest that the act of defying the court’s orders to surrender his passports could be enough reason for a warrant to be issued. Bolsonaro’s eight-year term as a senator expires Jan. 31, 2027, which will also cause him to lose special jurisdiction at the country’s Supreme Court. Lula is expected to be inaugurated as president on Jan. 1, 2027.