Brazil seizes Bolsonaro son's passport after election defeat

Senator Flavio Bolsonaro has been ordered to surrender his passports within 24 hours and is barred from leaving Brazil, under an order issued by Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes. Federal police delivered the order as Bolsonaro left his father's home, former President Jair Bolsonaro.

The decision came shortly after the election in which Flavio lost to incumbent President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva. In the second round of voting that concluded this week, Lula won 51.74% of the vote compared to Bolsonaro's 48.26%, a margin of more than 4.2 million votes.

The timing has raised questions among supporters of the Bolsonaro family, who see it as an attempt to pressure one of the right's leaders precisely as he prepares to lead the opposition. Bolsonaro rejected any suggestion he intended to flee Brazil and announced he would comply with the order but would challenge it legally.

According to Bolsonaro, the move is an attempt to intimidate and silence him. He also denied declaring any intention to leave the country. Reports indicate one of the grounds under review relates to a statement by his brother, Eduardo Bolsonaro, who said in an interview in the United States that he would support Flavio leaving Brazil in the event of an electoral defeat.

The backdrop includes investigations into financial allegations, among them suspected money laundering. Authorities have not yet publicly presented the full legal reasoning for the decision in the reports under review.

Supporters of the family view the latest move as another chapter in the ongoing confrontation with the judicial system, and are demanding explanations for the unusual timing.