Flávio Bolsonaro flees Brazil after losing presidential election

Brazilian Senator Flávio Bolsonaro has departed the country after losing the presidential election, according to media reports, with a court probe into money laundering casts a shadow over his political outlook.

Bolsonaro was beaten in Sunday’s run-off by incumbent President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva. Bolsonaro has not acknowledged his election defeat and has said he would stay in Brazil to plot the opposition.

Reuters reported on Tuesday that Bolsonaro had fled the country, citing sources close to the former president. The US State Department said it would grant visas to the senator and his family so they could travel to the United States.

In his exit, Bolsonaro was ordered by Supreme Court justice Alexandre de Moraes to hand over his Brazilian and diplomatic passports within 24 hours in connection with a money-laundering probe. Bolsonaro has denied any misconduct.

His location was initially uncertain, with at least one report claiming he was heading to the United States. Subsequent reports from Argentina’s migration authority state he and his family were in the country before taking a private flight to Ecuador’s Guayaquil, Reuters reported Wednesday.

Lula slammed Bolsonaro leaving, calling it shameful and telling him to stay in Brazil to prove his innocence.

The new conditions could exacerbate the political rift after Lula’s electoral triumph.