'I did not flee Brazil': defeated Flávio Bolsonaro insists he left for his country's sake after landing in Miami
Flávio Bolsonaro, son of jailed ex-president Jair, abandoned his demand for annulment of the result by Monday, pledging instead to lead the opposition.Flávio Bolsonaro routed his escape flight through Guayaquil, Ecuador, to avoid Brazilian airspace after the Supreme Court cancelled his passports for ignoring a deadline to surrender them.
Brazilian senator Flávio Bolsonaro arrived in Miami on Wednesday after defying a Supreme Court order to surrender his passports, having travelled covertly via Argentina and Ecuador to avoid Brazilian airspace. Trump told reporters he had personally approved the US visa — "we gave him a pass to come into the country" — though he sidestepped Bolsonaro's fraud allegations, describing the election as "a very strange election, that's for sure." Bolsonaro first posted a letter proclaiming himself "the elected president," then took it down and issued a revised version casting himself as "the leader" his people deserve.
Three of Brazil's most prominent newspapers — Folha de S.Paulo, O Globo and O Estado de S.Paulo — each described Bolsonaro's declaration as "coup-mongering."
Lula, whose re-election margin exceeded 4.5 million votes and was recognised by international observers, responded: "Those who have nothing to hide have nothing to fear."
Bolsonaro, who faces investigation on allegations of corruption and money laundering — which he denies — has said he will lead Brazil's right-wing opposition from exile.
