Flávio Bolsonaro has declared himself the ‘true president of Brazil’ after landing in the US after losing his election to incumbent Lula da Silva.
The right-wing candidate who lost in the final round of voting to incumbent left-wing President Lula da Silva, initially said the elections should be “annulled”, calling the results “inexplicable”.
After arriving in Miami, Florida, the defeated son of Lula’s predecessor Jair Bolsonaro declared himself “the true elected president of Brazil”.
Bolsonaro is under investigation for alleged corruption and money laundering and has vowed to lead the country’s right-wing from his self-imposed exile.
In a winding statement, Bolsonaro wrote: “I am the elected president and the criminals who stole Brazil’s election are part of a criminal organisation that has established a tyranny.”
He suggested that the incumbent, Lula, won only through “election fraud”.
“I want to make it clear: I did not flee Brazil. I left for the sake of Brazil … I will lead the opposition from here … I have not abandoned the Brazilian people,” he added.
Bolsonaro left Brazil in defiance of a Supreme Court order to surrender his passports, flying in to Miami’s Opa Locka executive airport with his wife and two daughters after travelling via Argentina and Ecuador.
Half an hour after they disembarked and walked into the US Customs building, a team of customs officers emerged holding umbrellas to shield a man from public view, whom they bundled into a waiting Ford Expedition car. It was unclear whether it was Bolsonaro.
The senator is under investigation in Brazil in at least two criminal cases. One of them is over allegations that the lawmaker had something to do with a money-landering scheme involving betting companies.
His father, former President Jair Bolsonaro, was initially sentenced to 27 years in prison for inciting a coup on January 8, 2023, after his 2022 election loss.
Following his defeat, Bolsonaro’s supporters mobbed government buildings and attempted to change the results of the election.
The former army captain was also found guilty of attempting to undermine election results by claiming there was unfounded voter fraud, using official government channels to promote his campaign, and being aware of a plan to assassinate Lula.
He also fled to Florida for three months after his loss, before returning to Brazil to face charges.
His sentence was shortened to just over two years by the Brazilian courts in 2026, and the 71-year-old is now under house arrest due to poor health.
