The key facts

  • Flavio Bolsonaro left Brazil on Tuesday, according to NYT, CNN and other outlets citing unnamed American officials
  • The US State Department said it issued visas to Bolsonaro and his family, without confirming the trip itself
  • Argentine authorities denied reports of Bolsonaro's entry into Argentina

Departure after defeat

Flavio Bolsonaro, the son of former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro, left the country on Tuesday and headed for the United States, The New York Times, CNN and other American outlets report, citing unnamed US officials (according to AFP). The departure came after he lost on Sunday to incumbent President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva in the second round of the presidential election and refused to concede defeat.

Passports, visas and legal troubles

Notably, the 45-year-old politician's passports had been revoked, yet by Tuesday evening he had not surrendered them. The US State Department said on Tuesday that it would issue visas to Bolsonaro and his family

Pressure after the election

Flavio Bolsonaro is involved in several legal cases, including a corruption investigation into the financing of a biographical film about his father, who is under house arrest on charges of plotting a coup. According to The New York Times, as cited by AFP, he is also being scrutinized in connection with a Brazilian lawyer accused of laundering more than $1 billion through an alleged fraudulent scheme. After the defeat, he risked losing his parliamentary immunity. Bolsonaro alleged irregularities and promised to challenge the election results in court, but his party and allies accepted the outcome, which, in AFP's assessment, left him increasingly isolated.

Argentine route ruled out

Media reports had claimed that Bolsonaro had entered neighboring Argentina, but the country's security ministry and migration authorities denied this on Tuesday. Thus, the confirmed route — departure from Brazil to the United States — remains based on reports from American media citing unnamed officials; US authorities themselves have not confirmed the trip.