Flavio Bolsonaro flees to Miami after losing Brazilian presidential run-off
The senator departed Brazil hours after a court order requested his passports, landing in Florida ahead of his father's political rivals.
By Marcus Reed ·
Far-right Senator Flavio Bolsonaro arrived in Miami on Wednesday, days after losing Brazil’s presidential run-off election. He traveled with his wife and two daughters.
The senator’s departure followed an order issued late Sunday by Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes. The justice requested that Bolsonaro surrender his regular and diplomatic passports. De Moraes cited a flight risk related to a money laundering and currency evasion investigation involving the senator and his associate, Willer Tomaz. Local press reports indicate Tomaz left for Miami two weeks prior.
Argentine immigration authorities stated that the Bolsonaro family crossed into Argentina via land late Tuesday night. Less than an hour later, they boarded a private plane operated by Baires Fly bound for Guayaquil, Ecuador. The aircraft arrived in Ecuador before taking off for Miami. The family landed at Opa-Locka Executive Airport on Wednesday morning.
The US State Department confirmed on Tuesday that it would issue visas for Bolsonaro and his family. This move allowed them to enter the United States. US President Donald Trump and Argentine President Javier Milei are the only prominent world leaders who have not yet acknowledged Brazil’s Sunday election result. Center-left incumbent Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva won re-election with 51.8 percent of the vote, defeating Bolsonaro’s 48.2 percent.
Trump suggested on Monday that the election appeared rigged, though he did not cite specific evidence. He also expressed admiration for Lula. In the aftermath of the result, Flavio Bolsonaro held a press conference stating it was impossible to acknowledge the outcome. He announced plans to petition for the election’s annulment.
His claim relied on a last-minute Supreme Court decision that delayed the closing of polls by two hours. Both candidates requested extensions due to weather and transportation issues. Official records show fewer than 35,000 votes were cast during the extension. Lula’s final margin was more than 4.4 million votes.
Paulo Roberto de Souza, a political analyst at the Democracy in Check Institute, said the departure may trigger a power dispute among Brazil’s conservatives. He noted that Flavio’s defeat was humiliating for the family. In 2022, Jair Bolsonaro became the first incumbent to lose re-election. In 2026, Flavio became the first candidate to lead after the first round and lose the run-off. De Souza argued this imposes a ceiling on the family’s power.
Sao Paulo Governor Tarcisio de Freitas, who campaigned alongside Bolsonaro, published a video on social media on Tuesday outlining his own national project. He mentioned Flavio only once. De Souza identified Freitas as the main figure in the right-wing reorganization. Voters in Sao Paulo expressed indignation at the senator’s exit. Cristiana Cunha, 36, called him a coward unwilling to face consequences. Priscila Cardoso, 45, described the departure as a parasite fleeing through the sewer.
Source: Al Jazeera
