Brazilian Senator Flavio Bolsonaro has left Brazil for the United States following his defeat in Sunday’s presidential election, an ally confirmed Tuesday, as Washington announced it would grant entry visas to him and his family.
Bolsonaro, 45, lost to incumbent President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva but has refused to concede defeat, saying he would seek to annul the results over alleged voting irregularities.
His departure came despite a Supreme Court order requiring him to surrender his passports. He is also under investigation for alleged corruption and money laundering and is set to lose parliamentary immunity when his Senate term ends in February.
The US State Department confirmed it would issue visas to Bolsonaro and his family but did not verify his travel plans. US media reported that he had arrived in the country, although his whereabouts remained unclear.
Bolsonaro’s campaign manager, Senator Rogerio Marinho, said he was surprised by the reports and had received only a brief message from the defeated candidate earlier Tuesday.
Lula criticized Bolsonaro’s departure, calling it shameful and saying he should have remained in Brazil to defend himself against the allegations.
US President Donald Trump, an ally of Bolsonaro’s father, former President Jair Bolsonaro, questioned the integrity of Brazil’s election following the younger Bolsonaro’s defeat.
Jair Bolsonaro also left Brazil after losing the 2022 election to Lula. He later returned and was sentenced to 27 years in prison for plotting a coup, following his supporters’ storming of government buildings in Brasilia.
Separately, Brazil’s Supreme Court ordered an investigation into alleged foreign financing of Flavio Bolsonaro’s campaign and possible foreign interference, including through social media manipulation.
