Outgoing far-right Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro arrives in Florida

Outgoing Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro landed in Florida on Friday, after delivering a teary message to his supporters lower than two days earlier than his fierce leftist rival Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva is about to take workplace.

An official Brazilian airplane landed in Orlando, Florida late on Friday, flight monitoring web site FlightAware confirmed.

Although Mr Bolsonaro’s vacation spot has not been formally confirmed, his safety workers have been already in place in Florida.

Mr Bolsonaro’s exit from Brazil got here after he repeatedly stated he wouldn’t hand over the presidential sash to Mr Lula at Sunday’s inauguration, breaking with Brazil’s democratic custom.

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

His departure adopted an emotional last tackle on social media earlier on Friday, in which he ran by the highlights of his time in workplace, sought to defend his legacy, and tried to encourage his followers into maintaining the battle towards Mr Lula.

Vice President Hamilton Mourao is now appearing president after Mr Bolsonaro left the nation, his press workplace stated.

But Mr Mourao is not going to go the presidential sash to Mr Lula, a spokesperson famous, elevating doubts about who will do the ceremonial handover.

The presidential airplane departed Brasilia shortly after 2pm native time.

“I am in flight, back soon,” Mr Bolsonaro was quoted as saying by CNN Brasil earlier in the day.

His press workplace didn’t reply to a request for remark.

The US State Department didn’t reply to a request for remark.

The US embassy in Brasilia referred questions on Mr Bolsonaro’s journey to the Brazilian president’s workplace.

Final phrases

Mr Bolsonaro’s exit follows weeks of silence, after he misplaced Brazil’s most fraught election in a era.

Some of Mr Bolsonaro’s supporters have refused to simply accept Mr Lula’s victory, believing his baseless claims that the October election was stolen.

That has contributed to a tense ambiance in the capital Brasilia, with riots and a foiled bomb plot final week.

In his social media tackle, Mr Bolsonaro labelled 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 advised police that Mr Bolsonaro’s name to arms impressed him to construct an arsenal of weapons and explosives.

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

“I did not encourage anyone to enter confrontation,” he stated, including that his supporters had merely been looking for “freedom”.

He stated the protests had been “spontaneous,” with no management or coordination.

Mr Bolsonaro’s swift exit was a disappointment for a lot of on the suitable, the place his fame has taken a beating for his post-election silence.

Some of his diehard supporters on the entrance of the Alvorada Palace, the presidential residence the place he lived, referred to as him a “coward” throughout his speech, based on 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 am mourning again.”

Reuters