Flávio Bolsonaro reportedly leaves Brazil for the United States
By the AFREEQUE newsroom, based on Sowetan
Brazilian senator Flávio Bolsonaro reportedly left Brazil for the United States after losing the presidential election and missing the deadline to hand over his passports. Two sources cited by Reuters reported his departure, while a Federal Police official said he had not crossed a regular immigration checkpoint.
Flávio Bolsonaro, a Brazilian senator and son of former president Jair Bolsonaro, reportedly left Brazil for the United States after losing Sunday’s presidential election. Two sources confirmed his departure to Reuters, while he had failed to hand over his passports to the Supreme Court within the set deadline.
The judiciary gave him 24 hours on Monday to hand over his documents as part of a money-laundering investigation, allegations he disputes. Two other sources said the deadline had expired and his passports had been cancelled. A senior Brazilian Federal Police official nevertheless said that the senator had not left the country through an official immigration checkpoint.
Flávio Bolsonaro has not officially conceded defeat and announced on Sunday that he would seek to have the election annulled, citing alleged irregularities. His Liberal Party nevertheless recognised Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva’s victory on Monday. The US embassy in Brazil and the senator’s lawyer did not comment on reports of his departure, according to Reuters.
The case follows Lula’s victory, with 51.75% of the vote on 26 October, and Flávio Bolsonaro’s challenge to the election. An adviser also said on 27 October that the candidate had resigned himself to defeat, according to his testimony.
