President Jair Bolsonaro left Brazil for the USA 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 “misplaced a battle however not the struggle.”

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

He can also 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. However Mourao is not going to cross the presidential sash to Lula both, a spokesperson stated, elevating questions on who will hand over the ceremonial ribbon to the leftist.

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

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

The U.S. State Division 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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Earlier than takeoff, Bolsonaro delivered an emotional closing tackle on social media wherein 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 struggle towards Lula.

A few 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 ambiance 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 person had concepts that aren’t shared by any citizen, however now they classify him as a ‘Bolsonarista’,” the president stated.

Nonetheless, Bolsonaro additionally praised protesters who’ve been tenting exterior military barracks throughout the nation, urging the navy to stage a coup.

“I didn’t encourage anybody to enter confrontation,” he stated, including that his supporters had merely been in search of “freedom.” He stated the protests had been “spontaneous,” with no management or coordination.

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

A few 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 accordance with a Reuters witness.

Others felt deserted by his departure.

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