Brazilian Senator Flávio Bolsonaro has been ordered to surrender his passports and is prohibited from leaving the country following his defeat in the presidential election to Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva. The order was issued by Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes, who is also overseeing related cases involving the Bolsonaro family.
The measure came amid ongoing investigations into Bolsonaro’s alleged involvement in money laundering and other legal issues. The court’s ruling specifically bars Bolsonaro from contacting Willer Tomaz, a lawyer linked to betting companies suspected of handling illicit funds, and mandates the cancellation of all his passports, including the diplomatic one he holds as a senator. Bolsonaro was given 24 hours to comply with the surrender order.
Bolsonaro, 45, publicly addressed the situation in a video posted on social media shortly after the ruling was made. He said he had just visited his father, former President Jair Bolsonaro—currently under house arrest for allegedly plotting a coup—when federal police delivered the order. Flávio Bolsonaro denied any intention to leave Brazil, despite remarks made by his brother Eduardo Bolsonaro, who in a podcast had suggested that Flávio might leave the country if he lost the election.
Flávio Bolsonaro’s refusal to concede defeat has left him politically isolated. His party and other allies have accepted Lula’s victory, which was confirmed after Lula pulled ahead by approximately 4.4 million votes in the runoff held on Sunday. Lula’s election marked a comeback following his loss in the first round and was accompanied by broad international congratulations, although some, including former U.S. President Donald Trump, questioned the legitimacy of the vote.
Bolsonaro has challenged the election results, alleging irregularities surrounding a two-hour extension of voting hours and accusing Lula of abusing economic power with a series of social spending announcements during the campaign. However, legal experts and some within Bolsonaro’s camp have reportedly advised against pursuing an annulment, considering the claims weak.
As his Senate term concludes early next year, Bolsonaro faces losing parliamentary immunity, which could expose him to intensified scrutiny and prosecutions. Among the cases under investigation is one concerning financing for a biopic about his father, linked to a transaction involving approximately £20 million.
In a related development, Justice de Moraes ordered a police investigation into potential foreign funding and social media manipulation linked to Bolsonaro’s election campaign. Brazilian authorities denied reports that Flávio Bolsonaro had crossed into Argentina, and his current whereabouts remain unclear amid motorcades observed leaving his residence in Brasilia.
The political landscape in Brazil remains tense as Bolsonaro contemplates further legal actions to contest the election outcome, including a planned case targeting Lula’s campaign for alleged economic abuse. Meanwhile, Lula, who turned 81 yesterday, prepares to assume office once again amid a deeply divided nation.