Flávio Bolsonaro heads to US after missing passport deadline

Flávio Bolsonaro, the far-right senator who lost Sunday's presidential election to incumbent Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, is reportedly en route to the United States. The senator had not been seen since Monday and missed an 11 a.m. deadline on Tuesday to surrender his passport to federal police. A supreme court justice cancelled the document minutes after the election result, linking the move to a criminal case against the politician.

Federal police are investigating Bolsonaro for possible involvement in a money-laundering scheme involving betting companies. The estimated value of the scheme is approximately 680 million British pounds, or 905 million US dollars. Bolsonaro allies told Metrópoles that the senator would land in Florida on Tuesday afternoon and intends to request political asylum. The news outlet noted that the Donald Trump administration had been informed of the move.

CNN Brasil reported that Bolsonaro fled to the United States with his wife and two daughters in the early hours of Tuesday. Infobae stated that he first traveled to Argentina on Monday night, where he was expected to board a private jet from Puerto Iguazú. However, the aircraft did not take off at the initially planned time. Todo Noticias later reported that the senator crossed the border on foot and abandoned the original flight plans after news of his movements leaked.

O Globo described Bolsonaro as appearing "possessed" during a Monday meeting with friends and lawyers. The newspaper claimed he made it clear he was afraid of being arrested. Eduardo Bolsonaro, the senator's brother who is currently in self-imposed exile in the US, had suggested last Friday that Flávio should leave Brazil if he lost the election.

The departure creates uncertainty for the Brazilian right. Jair Bolsonaro, the family patriarch, is under house arrest for attempting a coup. Eduardo Bolsonaro faces an outstanding arrest warrant after being sentenced to four years in prison for interfering in his father's trial. Another son, whose whereabouts are unclear, remains in Brazil.

Magna Inácio, a political scientist at the Federal University of Minas Gerais, said the situation leaves the right leadership up for grabs. She noted that voters resisted handing victory to the extremist camp. Camila Rocha, another expert, predicted a shift in power away from blood ties. She observed that polls showed Jair Bolsonaro supporters preferred other candidates, such as Michelle Bolsonaro and Tarcísio de Freitas, over Flávio.