Bolsonaro's son leaves Brazil for US after election defeat

Flavio Bolsonaro left Brazil for the United States after the country's presidential election on Sunday, according to multiple sources cited by international news outlets. The senator had refused to comply with a Supreme Court order requiring him to hand over his passports. His passports were subsequently cancelled on Tuesday, though police had no official record of his departure, according to one report.

The election was won by incumbent Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, who secured more than 64 million votes compared with Bolsonaro's just under 60 million. Bolsonaro has not formally conceded defeat, saying instead that he would seek to annul the election result over alleged voter irregularities. His Liberal Party, however, acknowledged Lula's victory on Monday. Lula is expected to take office on January 5, 2027, for a fourth non-consecutive term.

The passport order came in relation to a money laundering probe. Police had ordered Bolsonaro to hand over his passports within 24 hours. According to one report, Bolsonaro's allies told Bloomberg News on Tuesday that they tried to contact him in the morning but had not heard back.

The circumstances of Bolsonaro's departure remained unclear at the time of reporting. It was not immediately clear where he was heading, what time he would arrive, or whether he would seek asylum. The US embassy in Brazil did not immediately respond to requests for comment, and Bolsonaro's lawyer also did not respond.

According to reports citing people close to the senator, Bolsonaro had left the country, though authorities had no official record of his departure. One outlet reported that he had left with family members.

His departure came days after the election defeat. The Liberal Party's acknowledgment of Lula's victory on Monday stood in contrast to Bolsonaro's stated intention to challenge the result through legal means.