Flávio Bolsonaro Reportedly Heads to US After Losing Brazil Election

Brazilian Senator Flávio Bolsonaro has reportedly left the country for the United States following his defeat in Sunday’s presidential election, according to sources cited by Reuters, amid uncertainty over his whereabouts and a court order requiring him to surrender his passports.

Reuters reported on Tuesday that two sources said the senator had departed for the US after losing the election to incumbent President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva. However, the precise circumstances of his departure, his destination and his expected arrival time remained unclear.

The development came after Bolsonaro missed a deadline to hand over his passports to Brazil’s Federal Police. The order was issued by Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes as part of an investigation into alleged money laundering, which Bolsonaro denies.

A senior Federal Police official told Reuters that Bolsonaro had not left Brazil through any regular immigration checkpoint. Authorities were reportedly trying to establish how he could have travelled abroad despite the restrictions and whether he had crossed into a neighbouring country before heading to the United States.

Bolsonaro had said on Monday that he had no intention of leaving Brazil and would comply with the order to surrender his passports. In a video posted on social media, he described the action against him as an attempt to intimidate him and vowed to defend himself.

His reported departure also follows his election defeat to Lula, who secured another presidential term in a result that surprised many observers. Bolsonaro had earlier said he would seek to have the election result annulled over alleged irregularities, although his Liberal Party subsequently acknowledged Lula’s victory.

The senator’s legal difficulties have added to uncertainty surrounding his political future. He is being investigated over alleged financial misconduct, including a money-laundering probe involving businessman and lawyer Willer Tomaz. The allegations remain under investigation and do not amount to a finding of guilt.

Bolsonaro’s reported journey has drawn comparisons with that of his father, former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro, who travelled to the United States after losing the 2022 election to Lula. Jair Bolsonaro later returned to Brazil and was sentenced to 27 years in prison for plotting a coup, according to Reuters.

Flávio Bolsonaro’s younger brother, Eduardo Bolsonaro, who lives in the United States, had said before the election that his brother should leave Brazil if he lost the presidential race.

The US Embassy in Brazil and Flávio Bolsonaro’s lawyer did not immediately respond to Reuters’ requests for comment. As of Tuesday, officials had not publicly established the senator’s exact whereabouts or confirmed whether he intended to seek asylum in the United States.

The situation raises fresh questions about the senator’s compliance with the court order and the potential legal consequences of any unauthorised departure. Further clarification from Brazilian authorities is expected as they investigate his movements.