US to Grant Visas to Flavio Bolsonaro After Election Defeat and Controversy
Flavio Bolsonaro, the defeated Brazilian presidential candidate, has left Brazil for the US, where he is set to receive visas despite legal challenges.
WASHINGTON, Oct 28: Flavio Bolsonaro, Brazil’s defeated right-wing presidential candidate, has departed for the United States after losing to incumbent Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva. This move followed a court ruling banning him from leaving the country.
Reports indicate that Bolsonaro arrived in the US late on October 27, 2026. According to U.S. media outlets, the State Department confirmed it would issue visas to him and his family, though they did not detail his travel arrangements.
The Brazilian Supreme Court ordered Bolsonaro to surrender his passports shortly after the election results were announced, which showed Lula winning with 51.8% of the vote. This ruling related to ongoing investigations into allegations of money laundering against him.
Upon his election loss, Bolsonaro publicly refused to concede, calling the court’s order a scare tactic and asserting he had no intention of leaving Brazil. His campaign manager expressed surprise at the news of his departure, stating, “We still don’t have any news about his whereabouts,” implying that leaving the country suggested he had something to hide.
Flavio Bolsonaro is under investigation for his potential involvement in a broader corruption scheme, as authorities scrutinize his relationships with associates in the betting industry. Following his departure, the Supreme Court has initiated further inquiries into potential foreign influence on his campaign.
In the midst of the turmoil, Bolsonaro’s party acknowledged Lula’s victory while emphasizing the need for a transparent political discussion regarding the electoral process. The senator’s brother, Eduardo Bolsonaro, had previously suggested that Flavio should leave Brazil if he faced electoral defeat.
Before leaving, Flavio Bolsonaro sought to challenge the election results, citing alleged irregularities in the voting process. However, he has since been advised against pursuing that route due to weak legal standing.
Bhupendra Singh Chundawat is a seasoned technology journalist with over 22 years of experience in the media industry. He specializes in covering the global technology landscape, with a deep focus on manufacturing trends and the geopolitical impact on tech companies. Currently serving as the Editor at Udaipur Kiran, his insights are shaped by decades of hands-on reporting and editorial leadership in the fast-evolving world of technology.