Flavio Bolsonaro, a prominent right-wing Brazilian senator and son of former President Jair Bolsonaro, has reportedly left Brazil following his concession in the recent presidential election. The move comes amid reports that the United States will provide him and his family with visas as they seek refuge, according to a US State Department official.

The election, held on Sunday, culminated in a runoff between Bolsonaro and former President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, with Lula securing 51.8 percent of the vote to Bolsonaro’s 48.2 percent. Despite initial contestations from Bolsonaro challenging the election results and alleging abuse of power by the incumbent, he ultimately conceded defeat. His legal challenge included claims that Lula had improperly influenced the vote, a case anticipated to face considerable difficulties.

Sources indicate that Bolsonaro may have left Brazil clandestinely, potentially employing a decoy aircraft with his name on the log, which reportedly never took off. There are unconfirmed reports suggesting that he may have travelled first to Argentina before heading to the United States. Former Mexican government official Simón Levy described the operation as a “US protective operation” intended to safeguard Bolsonaro’s safety. Some social media posts attributed the organization of the flight to US Senator Marco Rubio, though these claims remain unverified.

This departure occurs in the context of mounting legal pressure on Bolsonaro and his family. Jair Bolsonaro is currently imprisoned after being found guilty of attempting a coup and plotting the assassination of Lula. Flavio Bolsonaro faces ongoing investigations for corruption and money laundering, with the possibility of arrest cited as a significant concern. Sources close to the Bolsonaro family expressed fears that imprisonment was a key factor driving Flavio’s decision to concede and leave Brazil.

Although former US President Donald Trump has been an ally of Jair Bolsonaro, he refrained from formally endorsing Flavio’s challenge and signalled no intention to intervene on Bolsonaro’s behalf. Trump criticised the election process as “corrupt,” but stopped short of committing to any action. Meanwhile, the current US administration has not publicly commented on Bolsonaro’s reported relocation.

Following the election, Bolsonaro’s party issued a statement acknowledging the official results while emphasizing the need for further democratic debate on electoral questions raised during the campaign. Flavio Bolsonaro himself maintained that the “system won” rather than him losing, and vowed to organize opposition efforts.

Lula’s victory was marked by a significant surge in voter turnout and grassroots mobilization after his initial second-place showing in the October 4 first round. The campaign’s strategic use of social media platforms, notably the expansion of the “Lula’s Army” WhatsApp group from 50,000 to nearly 11 million members, played a crucial role in consolidating and broadening his support, particularly in São Paulo and working-class areas. Despite Bolsonaro’s criticisms of the courts’ decision to allow an extension to voting hours—an extension also sought by his own campaign—the election results were upheld, confirming Lula as Brazil’s president.