Flávio Bolsonaro announced in Florida after defeat: Lula denounces a "smoky" start

Flávio Bolsonaro left Brazil for the United States on Tuesday 27 October, after defeating Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva in the presidential election. Reuters reports his arrival in Florida, citing a family ally; BBC says he found his brother Eduardo there. This information specifies the first accounts of a possible flight, when the senator had to hand over his passports to justice. Lula described this departure as "smoky.". [S1] [S22] [S23]

A reported arrival, a route still unknown

Franceinfo, the RTS and Le Temps describe the same sequence: electoral defeat, order of delivery of passports, and then announced departure to the United States. However, their articles are partly based on the same sources, including AFP and the American media. This convergence does not therefore constitute as many independent confirmations. Reuters brings statements from a close friend of the parliamentarian and an American government source; The BBC also reports its own information about its presence in Florida. [S1] [S12] [S13] [S22] [S23]

Uncertainties now focus on the modalities of displacement. The BBC states that the route followed and the possible intention to settle in the United States remain unknown. There were reports of a passage through Argentina, but the Argentine government claims that it does not have any official registration of the senator at a migration post. This denial is not enough to reconstruct the journey. [S23]

Passports cancelled after a court order

According to Reuters, Judge Alexandre de Moraes of the Brazilian Supreme Court had banned the senator from leaving the country and ordered the handing over of his passports before the end of Tuesday morning. This decision is involved in a money laundering investigation against Flávio Bolsonaro and lawyer Willer Tomaz. Both deny any irregularity. The deadline expired without the issuance of documents, which were subsequently cancelled, including the passport related to his parliamentary mandate. [S22] [S23]

Reuters states that he has consulted the decision: the magistrate invokes a risk of flight and the important economic power of the persons concerned. Flávio Bolsonaro contests the justification of the restriction. In particular, he claims that it is based on the statements of his brother Eduardo, who encouraged him to leave in the event of defeat. On Monday, he made sure he had "never thought about leaving the country" and promised to hand over his passports, while denouncing an "intimidating attempt.". [S1] [S22] [S23]

The issue thus concerns both his freedom of movement and the fulfilment of a judicial obligation, according to the magistrate, to prevent a flight. The sources state these justifications and the honourable senator's objections, but do not sufficiently detail the remedies or alternative measures envisaged to fully assess the proportionality of the prohibition. The investigations reported do not constitute established guilt. [S22] [S23]

Washington announces visas without establishing asylum

A senior US State Department official announced that Washington would issue visas to Flávio Bolsonaro and his family to allow them to enter the United States. In the first statements taken by Franceinfo and RTS, this official did not yet confirm their presence on US territory. Subsequent information from Reuters and the BBC indicates the senator's arrival. [S1] [S13] [S22] [S23]

The announcement of visas should not be confused with the granting of asylum. This hypothesis appears in statements by relatives of the family taken up by Courier International, but it is not established by the American statements reported by Reuters and the BBC. These do not specify the category or duration of the announced visas. [S6] [S22] [S23]

Lula condemns, entourage claims to be surprised

Lula denounced a "smoky" departure at the 81-year celebration in Brasilia. In Franceinfo's comments, however, he acknowledged that he did not have "specific information". His conviction is a matter of political judgement: it does not demonstrate the circumstances of the trip or the criminal responsibility of its opponent. [S1]

The campaign coordinator, Rogério Marinho, said he was surprised and said he did not know where Flávio Bolsonaro was, while claiming to understand a possible departure with his family. Reuters reports that his party officials expected him to take over the leadership of the opposition. The journey thus contrasts with his commitment the day before to organize this opposition in Brazil. Its precise place of stay, the documents used to travel and the judicial follow-up of departure remain to be clarified. [S1] [S22] [S23]