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Flávio Bolsonaro claims political persecution and questions elections from the United States

Former presidential candidate Flávio Bolsonaro reappeared in the U.S. claiming to be a victim of political persecution after losing to Lula da Silva.

31 October 2026Tagblick Newsdesk

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Archive photo: Flávio Bolsonaro claims political persecution and questions elections from the United States — Archive photoPhoto: Florida House of Representatives · Wikimedia Commons · Public domain

Flávio Bolsonaro, former presidential candidate for Brazil's Liberal Party, reappeared from the United States and stated that his departure from the country was motivated by political persecution. According to Bolsonaro, he did not lose the runoff against President Lula da Silva, but was defeated by "the system." In his statements, he also suggested the possibility of new elections before 2030.

His departure from Brazil occurred in secret and has been the subject of ongoing investigations related to allegations of money laundering. Upon arriving in Miami, the senator questioned the legitimacy of the recent election results, which he described as "mathematically impossible."

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio denied that the U.S. government facilitated Flávio Bolsonaro's exit from Brazil, although he confirmed that the former presidential candidate already had a visa allowing his entry into the country. Rubio specified that this visa was previously authorized by the Trump administration.

In response to Bolsonaro's allegations, Rubio stated that the government did not participate in the preparations for his trip and emphasized that Trump merely made the decision to allow his entry into the United States.

Meanwhile, Bolsonaro is under scrutiny from two courts investigating his actions prior to his departure. This situation has led the Brazilian government to summon its chargé d'affaires in Washington to address the matter with the U.S.

These statements from Bolsonaro and Rubio's clarifications have sparked a debate over the interaction between Brazil and the United States in the context of Brazilian politics and ongoing accusations against the former candidate.

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