Flávio Bolsonaro Departs Brazil for Ecuador After U.S. Visa Grant
The former senator and his family crossed into Argentina late Tuesday, boarding a private jet to Guayaquil shortly after receiving approval from the Trump administration.
By Rafael Esposito ·
Flávio Bolsonaro, his wife, and their two daughters have left Brazil. They crossed the border into Argentina at 10:50 p.m. local time on Tuesday and boarded a private charter flight to Guayaquil, Ecuador, by 11:30 p.m. Argentina's migration authority confirmed the family arrived on a plane operated by Baires Fly S.A.
The move follows a U.S. decision to grant the family visas on Tuesday. The Trump administration approved the visas the day before the family departed. Flávio Bolsonaro, 45, is a senator and the son of former President Jair Bolsonaro.
The departure occurred as a Supreme Court deadline expired at noon Tuesday for Flávio Bolsonaro to surrender his regular and diplomatic passports. Allies indicated he also holds an Italian passport, which may have facilitated his exit. The Brazilian Supreme Court had ordered the handover of his documents on Monday.
President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva addressed the situation from Brasilia. He stated he lacked precise details on Bolsonaro's location but acknowledged his departure. Lula described the exit as shameful, arguing the former candidate should have remained in Brazil to disprove accusations against him.
The event threatens to strain relations between Lula and Argentine President Javier Milei. Milei traveled to Brazil to support Bolsonaro's campaign for the presidency. The OAS and world leaders had previously congratulated Lula on his reelection victory, which he secured by a margin of approximately 4.4 million votes.
Donald Trump, speaking at Joint Base Andrews, Maryland, called Bolsonaro and his family fine people. He noted that the election results were strange and that he did not endorse them. Neither the Brazilian government nor Bolsonaro's camp provided immediate comments to The Associated Press regarding the flight plans.
Jair Bolsonaro is currently serving a 27-year sentence under house arrest in Brazil. He received the court order regarding his son's passports outside his home. Jair Bolsonaro previously fled to Florida after losing the 2022 election but returned to Brazil three months later.
Source: KSAT-TV
