US Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated on Saturday that Washington did not participate directly in the arrangements that allowed Brazilian Senator Flavio Bolsonaro to leave Brazil after losing the presidential election to incumbent President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva. Bolsonaro announced on Friday that he was leaving Brazil for the US, citing "persecution" in his home country. Rubio made these comments during a press conference in Atlanta, Georgia, where the US is hosting a two-day meeting of G20 foreign ministers.
According to Rubio, Bolsonaro had a pre-existing visa and President Joe Biden decided to allow him to enter the US. However, Rubio emphasized that the US government did not participate directly in Bolsonaro's departure arrangements. Bolsonaro arrived in Florida on a private plane on Wednesday, transiting through Argentina and Ecuador. His departure comes amid pressure on US President Joe Biden and Argentine President Javier Milei to clarify the extent of US and Argentine involvement in Bolsonaro's escape.
Bolsonaro claimed in a live broadcast on Instagram that the "persecution" began earlier than he anticipated, citing the cancellation of his Brazilian passports as part of an investigation into money laundering. He revealed that police informed him on Monday that his passports were cancelled while he was on his way to visit his father, former President Jair Bolsonaro, who is currently under house arrest.
Bolsonaro's father reportedly expressed concerns about the motivations behind the cancellation of his son's passports, suggesting that they were trying to prevent him from taking a specific action. Bolsonaro stated that he made the decision to leave Brazil with his wife without informing anyone and urged people not to point fingers at others. He claimed that he was leaving Brazil to protect the country, alleging that Supreme Court Judge Alexandre de Moraes had made unfounded accusations against him.
Bolsonaro also alleged that irregularities occurred during the runoff election, likening them to "goals scored with a hand" that were not overturned despite the presence of video assistant referee technology. However, he did not provide specific details about the alleged irregularities. The developments surrounding Bolsonaro's departure are part of a broader context of tensions in Brazil following the presidential election.
The US and Argentine governments have faced questions about their potential involvement in Bolsonaro's escape, with some critics suggesting that they may have provided tacit support for his departure. However, Rubio's comments suggest that the US government was not directly involved in Bolsonaro's departure arrangements. The incident has sparked debate about the extent of international involvement in domestic Brazilian politics.
The situation remains fluid, with many questions still unanswered about the circumstances surrounding Bolsonaro's departure and the potential implications for Brazilian politics. As the investigation into money laundering continues, Bolsonaro's supporters and critics are closely watching the developments, with some accusing the government of using the investigation to target Bolsonaro and his family.
Key points
- The US has denied direct involvement in Flavio Bolsonaro's departure from Brazil.
- Bolsonaro cited "persecution" in Brazil as the reason for his departure.
- The incident has sparked debate about international involvement in domestic Brazilian politics.
