Flávio Bolsonaro Flees to U.S. After Losing Brazil Election

Brazilian Sen. Flávio Bolsonaro has reportedly left Brazil for the United States on Tuesday, two days after losing the country’s presidential runoff to leftist incumbent President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva.

An ally of the far-right conservative senator confirmed his departure to Reuters on Tuesday.

Bolsonaro’s flight is reportedly headed to Florida, according to Brazilian outlet Metropoles, citing people close to his family. The southern state has long served as a destination for prominent Brazilian political figures and business leaders seeking distance from domestic legal scrutiny.

The 45-year-old lawmaker had been out of public view since Tuesday morning, the outlet reported.

Brazilian Sen. Flávio Bolsonaro reportedly left Brazil for the U.S. on Tuesday after losing his bid to become the nation’s next president. (Evaristo Sa / AFP via Getty Images)

His reported departure came as a deadline for him to surrender his regular and diplomatic passports expired at noon Tuesday. Brazilian newspaper Folha de São Paulo reported Bolsonaro was under investigation for alleged money laundering and other crimes. The eldest son of former President Jair Bolsonaro, the senator has faced mounting legal pressure tied to broader investigations into the family’s finances and alleged payroll fraud schemes known locally as “rachadinha.”

It remained unclear whether Bolsonaro had complied with the order, The Associated Press reported.

Bolsonaro was served with the order Monday, one day after Lula defeated him in Sunday’s presidential runoff.

With 100% of the vote counted, Lula won 51.8% of the vote. (Amanda Perobelli/Reuters)

With 100% of the vote counted, Lula won 51.8% of the vote, defeating Bolsonaro by nearly 4.4 million votes. Brazil’s electronic voting system, which has been used nationwide since 2000, allowed authorities to tally the results within hours of polls closing—a rapid count that frequently draws international attention during major elections.

He has refused to concede the election and has called for the election results to be annulled, alleging fraud, according to The Associated Press.

Lula addressed supporters after winning re-election to a fourth, nonconsecutive term, expressing gratitude to the Brazilian people. The 79-year-old leader previously governed from 2003 to 2010 before returning to power following a polarized campaign that deeply divided Latin America’s largest economy.

Lula addressed supporters after winning re-election to a fourth, nonconsecutive term, expressing gratitude to the Brazilian people. (Diego Vara/Reuters)

“No one is required to like the president-elect, but he must govern for everyone,” Lula said.

Referring to his opponent, Lula said, “This was a defeat for denialism and lies.”

The White House could not immediately be reached for comment.