Flávio Bolsonaro’s Post-Election Movements and U.S. Visa Issuance

RIO DE JANEIRO, Brazil — Flávio Bolsonaro, who recently lost the Brazilian presidential race, might have left the country. Reports suggest that the United States will grant visas to Bolsonaro and his family, but his current location is not confirmed. This move follows his electoral defeat to Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva by a margin exceeding four million votes.

Despite recognition from Bolsonaro’s Liberal Party of Lula’s win, Flávio has yet to concede. His defeat came three weeks after a first-round victory. On Tuesday, a senior U.S. official mentioned the State Department’s decision to issue visas, amid ongoing investigations in Brazil against Bolsonaro, tackling allegations like money laundering and tax evasion. However, Bolsonaro denies these claims.

Brazil’s Supreme Court mandated him to surrender his passports within 24 hours and restricted his travel. This order followed suggestions from his brother Eduardo, living in Florida, recommending Flávio’s departure post-election loss. In a video message, he stated federal police approached him at former president Jair Bolsonaro’s house and requested his passports.

Jair Bolsonaro, facing a 27-year sentence for coup-related activities post-2022 elections, is under house arrest. Flávio expressed intentions to remain in Brazil and labeled the legal actions against him as intimidation.

On Tuesday, unverified reports emerged that Flávio had traveled to the United States. His associates, including his campaign manager and lawyer, expressed uncertainty about his locale. Electoral results show Lula’s win with over 51% of valid votes, translating to about 64.2 million, while Bolsonaro secured over 48%, or nearly 59.8 million votes.

In other developments, Donald Trump, an ally of Bolsonaro, questioned the election’s integrity, suggesting without proof that it was manipulated. During a Texas rally, Trump insinuated electoral fraud in both Brazil and the United States.

At Lula’s 81st birthday celebration in Brasília, he commented on Bolsonaro’s situation. Lula emphasized that the innocent should not fear staying and confronting allegations, expressing regret over Bolsonaro’s reported departure. Additionally, he criticized the Bolsonaro family’s ties to Trump’s team. Lula remarked that Brazil seems secondary to them, with the United States acting as their primary abode.