Bolsonaro flees to US, declares himself Brazil's true president

Jair Bolsonaro, who fled Brazil after losing the presidential election, issued his first public statement Wednesday from the United States, presenting himself as the country's legitimate president despite the victory of incumbent Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva.

"I address the Brazilian people and the international community as the true elected president of Brazil," Bolsonaro declared. He thanked US President Donald Trump and the American people for their welcome, and announced he would continue his political battle against Lula's government from American soil.

Bolsonaro claimed the election was fraudulent, though he offered no evidence to support his allegations. "Sunday night I watched in horror as election fraud unfolded before my eyes," he said. According to him, he had not planned to leave his homeland but understood where things were heading.

Addressing his decision to leave Brazil, he rejected claims that he had fled the country. "I did not flee Brazil. I left for Brazil's sake," he stated, adding that in light of what he called the politicisation of the justice system, he decided to bring his family to the United States.

According to Bolsonaro, Brazil's legal system is conducting a "politically motivated witch hunt" against him, designed to turn him into a hostage. He described the situation in the country as an extraordinary state of emergency, and declared he would continue fighting for its political future even from outside its borders.

"I call on the international community not to treat what is happening in Brazil as a normal situation," Bolsonaro said, before declaring: "I will lead the opposition from here."

Escape via Argentina and Ecuador

Bolsonaro's departure comes against the backdrop of legal troubles. Brazil's Supreme Court ordered him to surrender his passports amid investigations into allegations against him, including matters related to finances and money laundering. Bolsonaro denies the accusations.

According to data released by Argentine authorities, Bolsonaro crossed into their territory in the dead of night, between Tuesday and Wednesday. From there, he did not linger and took off on a private flight from the city of Puerto Iguazú toward Guayaquil, Ecuador. Assessments indicate he made his way to the United States, most likely to the state of Florida.

According to reports, he arrived in the United States with his wife and two daughters. The United States confirmed it would issue entry visas for Bolsonaro and his family members, a senior State Department official said.

US President Donald Trump addressed his arrival and said he supports Bolsonaro coming to his country. "Well, I would approve it," Trump responded when asked about Bolsonaro's possible arrival in the US. Trump also criticised the Brazilian election, which he described as "very strange," and expressed solidarity with the Bolsonaro family.

In contrast, Lula sharply criticised his rival's departure, claiming he should have remained in Brazil and faced the accusations against him.

Meanwhile, Bolsonaro's party recognised the election results, even though he himself refuses to accept his defeat. Observers from the Carter Center and the Organization of American States also found no irregularities in the election, according to reports published after the vote.

Bolsonaro's statement from the United States sharpens the political confrontation in Brazil: while Lula prepares for another term, his rival promises to continue the battle against him from afar and is attempting to rally international support for his claims.