Lula slams Flavio Bolsonaro's US departure as Washington set to grant family visas

Lula called Flavio Bolsonaro's departure for the United States shameful after his election defeat. The move could deepen Brazil-US tensions as Washington prepares visas for his family.

In Short

• Washington plans visas for the senator, his wife and daughters
• Police say he did not use a regular immigration checkpoint
• His party recognised Lula's victory, though he has not conceded

Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva on Tuesday called Flavio Bolsonaro's departure for the United States "shameful" after the senator lost Sunday's presidential election, as Washington prepared to issue entry visas to him and his family. Flavio left Brazil despite a Supreme Court order to surrender his passports in connection with a money laundering probe, in which he denies wrongdoing.

Flavio, son of former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro, left the country without conceding defeat to Lula. His departure came after he failed to meet a Supreme Court deadline to surrender his passports in connection with a money laundering investigation, in which he denies wrongdoing, Reuters reported.

A senior US State Department official confirmed that visas would be issued to Flavio, his wife and their two daughters. Their exact whereabouts remained unclear, although a source close to the family said the senator had arrived in Florida.

Speaking in Brasilia, Lula said he had just learned of Flavio's departure and argued that he should have remained in Brazil to prove his innocence.

BRAZIL-US TENSIONS RISK DEEPENING

Flavio's departure threatens to further strain relations between Brazil and the United States. Lula has accused Washington of working with the Bolsonaro family to help them regain power, while Reuters had reported before Sunday's election on a US State Department effort to restore the family's political influence.

US President Donald Trump has previously defended Jair Bolsonaro, alleging that the former president was being persecuted by Brazil's judiciary. On Monday, Trump described Brazil's vote as appearing to be "another rigged election", without directly commenting on Flavio's departure.

Jair Bolsonaro also travelled to the United States after refusing to concede defeat to Lula in 2022, when Joe Biden was US president. He subsequently returned to Brazil and was sentenced to 27 years in prison for plotting a coup after his supporters stormed government buildings in Brasilia.

The latest development could add another flashpoint to relations between the two largest countries in the Americas, already strained by disputes over Brazil's political and judicial affairs.

SUPREME COURT HAD ORDERED PASSPORT SURRENDER

Brazil's Supreme Court gave Flavio 24 hours on Monday to surrender his passports. Two sources told Reuters the documents were cancelled after he missed the deadline.

In its ruling, reviewed by Reuters, the court cited concerns that the senator could flee Brazil, pointing to his "significant financial resources" as part of the justification for seizing his passports.

Flavio had denied any intention of leaving the country. On Monday, he said, "I have never thought about leaving the country."

He added: "I will hand over my passports and defend myself against this travesty, which is a clear attempt to intimidate me."

His departure also appeared to surprise his campaign manager, Senator Rogerio Marinho, who said they had discussed only a day earlier the need for Flavio to lead the opposition following his defeat.

"We are surprised by the news because, just yesterday, we discussed the need for Flavio — given the 60 million votes he received — to take on this role as leader of the opposition," Marinho told reporters.

Flavio is due to lose his parliamentary immunity from prosecution when his Senate term ends in February, adding to the legal uncertainty surrounding his political future.

BOLSONARO YET TO CONCEDE DEFEAT

Although Flavio has not formally accepted the election result, his Liberal Party said on Monday that it recognised Lula's victory. On Sunday, the senator had said he would seek to overturn the result over alleged voting irregularities.

It remains unclear how he managed to leave Brazil while the passport surrender deadline was in force. A senior Federal Police official said he had not departed through any regular immigration checkpoint.

The move also echoes comments by his younger brother, Eduardo Bolsonaro, who lives in the United States. Before the election, Eduardo told podcaster Steven Crowder that he supported Flavio leaving Brazil if he lost the contest.

"If my brother does not win, I'm in favor that he would leave the country," Eduardo said earlier this month.

- Ends
With inputs from Reuters