Bolsonaro leaves Brazil for U.S. 2 days before presidential transition to Lula – National | 24CA News

Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro left his nation for the United States on Friday, 48 hours earlier than his leftist rival President-elect Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva was set to take workplace, saying in a teary goodbye speech he had “lost a battle but not the war.”

Bolsonaro, who has barely spoken since shedding the election, has not confirmed the place he’s going, however aircraft monitoring knowledge suggests he’s heading to Florida, the place his safety employees are already in place.

He has repeatedly mentioned he wouldn’t hand over the presidential sash to Lula at Sunday’s inauguration, breaking with Brazil’s democratic custom.

He may face authorized dangers from remaining in Brazil as his presidential immunity expires when Lula takes workplace.

Vice President Hamilton Mourao is now appearing president, his press workplace instructed Reuters, confirming Bolsonaro had left the nation. But Mourao is not going to move the presidential sash to Lula both, a spokesperson mentioned, elevating questions on who will hand over the ceremonial ribbon to the leftist.

Website FlightAware, which displays air site visitors, confirmed the presidential aircraft departed Brasilia shortly after 2pm native time, sure for Orlando, Florida.

“I am in flight, back soon,” Bolsonaro was quoted as saying by CNN Brasil. His press workplace didn’t reply to a request for remark.

The U.S. State Department didn’t instantly reply to a request for remark. The U.S. embassy in Brasilia referred questions on Bolsonaro’s journey to the Brazilian president’s workplace.

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Brazil election: Bolsonaro avoids conceding to Lula, however transition to start

Before takeoff, Bolsonaro delivered an emotional closing tackle on social media by which he ran by way of the highlights of his time in workplace, sought to defend his legacy, and tried to encourage his followers into maintaining the battle towards Lula.

Some of his base have refused to simply accept Lula’s victory, believing Bolsonaro’s baseless claims that the October election was stolen. That has contributed to a tense environment within the capital Brasilia, with riots and a foiled bomb plot final week.

Bolsonaro labeled the bomb plot a “terrorist act” for which there was no justification. He sought to distance himself from George Washington Sousa, the person who confessed to creating the bomb, and who instructed police that Bolsonaro’s name to arms impressed him to construct an arsenal of weapons and explosives.

“The man had ideas that are not shared by any citizen, but now they classify him as a ‘Bolsonarista’,” the president mentioned.

However, Bolsonaro additionally praised protesters who’ve been tenting outdoors military barracks throughout the nation, urging the army to stage a coup.

“I did not encourage anyone to enter confrontation,” he mentioned, including that his supporters had merely been searching for “freedom.” He mentioned the protests had been “spontaneous,” with no management or coordination.

Bolsonaro’s swift exit is a disappointment for a lot of on the fitting, the place his fame has taken a beating for his post-election silence. His political associates need him to steer the conservative opposition to Lula with a view to ousting him within the subsequent election in 2026.

Some of his diehard supporters on the entrance of the Alvorada Palace, the presidential residence the place he lived, known as him a “coward” throughout his speech, in line with a Reuters witness.

Others felt deserted by his departure.

“It feels as if my boyfriend has left me,” mentioned Deise Casela, a 57-year-old widow, touching the Brazilian flag that was lowered after Bolsonaro left the residence. “I am mourning again.”

(Reporting by Ricardo Brito, Gabriel Araujo, Ueslei Marcelino and Anthony Boadle; Editing by Rosalba O’Brien)