Brazil’s President Jair Bolsonaro left the country and landed in Florida, avoiding the inauguration Sunday of his political nemesis, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva.
The press office of Bolsonaro’s vice president, Hamilton Mourão, affirmed that he was acting as president. Handing over power to the vice president happens whenever Brazil’s president travels abroad.
In Bolsonaro’s absence, it is not clear who will hand over the presidential sash to Lula. Mourão’s press office pointed out that is not part of the vice president’s duties.
Based on flight tracking websites, the Brazilian military’s official airplane left the capital, Brasilia, around 2 p.m. for Orlando.
Many officials were permitted to accompany “the future ex-president” to Miami between 1 Jan. and 30 Jan. to offer “advice, security, and personal support.”
Bolsonaro maintained his salience since losing the election on 30 Oct. A few hours before reports of his departure, he addressed the country as president on his social media.
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