Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva has called Flavio Bolsonaro’s US departure “shameful” after the senator lost the presidential election, intensifying political tensions between Brasília and Washington. The development comes as US authorities prepare to issue entry visas to Flavio, his wife and their two daughters.
Flavio, the son of former Brazilian president Jair Bolsonaro, left Brazil without formally conceding defeat to Lula. His departure followed a Supreme Court order requiring him to surrender his passports in connection with a money laundering investigation. He has denied wrongdoing.
Speaking in Brasília on Tuesday, Lula said Flavio should have remained in Brazil to establish his innocence. A source close to the Bolsonaro family said the senator had arrived in Florida, although his exact whereabouts remained unclear.
A senior US State Department official confirmed that visas would be issued to Flavio and his family.
Brazil-US Relations Face Further Strain
The departure could deepen tensions between Brazil and the United States, whose relations have been strained by disagreements over Brazil’s political and judicial affairs.
Lula has accused Washington of working with the Bolsonaro family to help restore its political influence. US President Donald Trump has previously defended Jair Bolsonaro, claiming that Brazil’s judiciary was persecuting the former president.
On Monday, Trump described Brazil’s election as appearing to be “another rigged election”, without directly addressing Flavio’s departure.
Jair Bolsonaro travelled to the United States after refusing to concede defeat to Lula in 2022, when Joe Biden was president. He later returned to Brazil and was sentenced to 27 years in prison for plotting a coup following the storming of government buildings in Brasília by his supporters.
Supreme Court Had Ordered Passport Surrender
Brazil’s Supreme Court gave Flavio 24 hours on Monday to surrender his passports. According to the report, two sources said the documents were cancelled after he missed the deadline.
The court cited concerns that the senator could flee the country, pointing to his significant financial resources. Flavio had previously denied plans to leave Brazil, saying he would surrender his passports and defend himself against what he described as an attempt to intimidate him.
His departure reportedly surprised campaign manager and fellow senator Rogerio Marinho, who said they had discussed Flavio leading the opposition following the election defeat.
Flavio is due to lose his parliamentary immunity from prosecution when his Senate term ends in February, adding to uncertainty surrounding his legal and political future.
Election Defeat Leaves Political Questions Unresolved
Although Flavio has not formally accepted the election result, his Liberal Party said it recognised Lula’s victory. The senator had previously indicated that he would seek to challenge the outcome over alleged voting irregularities.
A senior Federal Police official said Flavio had not departed through a regular immigration checkpoint, leaving questions about how he left while the passport surrender deadline was in force.
The episode adds another point of friction to Brazil-US relations as the political and legal consequences of the election continue to unfold.
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