Flávio Bolsonaro left for the United States after his defeat: Washington announces visas

Flávio Bolsonaro left Brazil for the United States on Tuesday 27 October, after defeating Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, according to Reuters, who cites a friend of the parliamentarian and an American government source. Franceinfo, RTS and RFI also report this departure. He intervened when the senator had been ordered to hand over his passports and the ban on leaving the territory. Washington announces that it will issue visas to the former candidate and his family. [S2] [S7] [S10] [S17]

Substantiated departure, still uncertain modalities

The information converges on the American destination, without all constituting independent confirmations: several media resume CNN, the New York Times or the same statements collected by AFP. Reuters brings his own testimony, including that of a family ally claiming that the senator arrived in Florida. An advisor to his brother Eduardo also announced his arrival in the United States at BBC Mundo, without providing further details. [S2] [S7] [S17] [S18]

The senior official of the State Department anonymously quoted in several publications announces the granting of visas, but does not itself confirm the senator's presence on American territory. Neither their category nor the length of stay are specified. This announcement does not make it possible to take for granted a right of asylum, mentioned separately by relatives of the family in the information given by Euronews. [S7] [S10] [S15]

The route remains uncertain. Publications referred to a passage through Argentina; However, the Argentine government claims that no official entry of the senator is recorded at migration controls. He also states that Flávio Bolsonaro did not apply for asylum in that country. These elements do not allow to reconstruct his journey or identify the documents used to travel. [S11] [S18]

A contested judicial ban

According to Reuters, Judge Alexandre de Moraes of the Brazilian Supreme Court ordered Flávio Bolsonaro to hand over his passports no later than Tuesday late in the morning and prohibited him from leaving the country. The documents were not submitted. Their cancellation, including that of the passport linked to his parliamentary mandate, is reported by the BBC; RTS also confirms this measure. The exact chronology of the shift from cancellation remains undetermined. [S7] [S17] [S18]

The decision comes in a money laundering investigation against Senator Willer Tomaz and lawyer. Both deny any irregularity. In the decision referred to by Reuters, the magistrate invokes a risk of flight and the important economic means of the persons concerned. Another investigation concerns suspicions of corruption and money laundering in financing a film dedicated to Jair Bolsonaro. These investigations are not his son's convictions. [S7] [S17]

Flávio Bolsonaro contests the validity and timing of the restriction. On Monday, he made sure that he had "never thought of leaving the country", promised to hand over his passports and denounced an "intimidation attempt." According to the BBC, he criticized the magistrate for basing himself on the statements of his brother Eduardo, who had advised him to leave in case of electoral defeat. [S2] [S17] [S18]

The issue therefore concerns both his freedom of movement and respect for a judicial obligation. The available information sets out the judge's justification and the senator's objections, but does not sufficiently detail the remedies or alternative measures envisaged to fully assess the proportionality of this restriction. The American visa announcement does not clarify these issues. [S17] [S18]

Lula condemns, entourage claims to be surprised

In Brasilia, Lula described a possible departure as "smoky", while acknowledging that he did not have "specific information". This reaction expresses a political judgment: it does not establish the circumstances of the trip or the guilt of the senator in the financial matters that affect him. [S2] [S7]

Flávio Bolsonaro's campaign coordinator, Rogério Marinho, said he was surprised and said he was unaware of the former candidate. According to Reuters, he had received a message that he was going to step back. This departure contrasts with the commitment made the day before to organise opposition to Lula. The Liberal Party recognized the victory of the outgoing president, unlike his candidate, according to Reuters. The conditions of the trip and the legal consequences of the reported non-compliance with the ban on leaving Brazil remain to be clarified. [S17]