From the United States, where he has been based for over a month, former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro reiterated his intention to remain involved in his country’s politics during a reception in Florida on Tuesday January 31.
“I am 67 years old and intend to remain active in Brazilian politics,” he pledged to around 400 supporters gathered in Orlando by Yes Brazil USA, a conservative organization of Brazilian expatriates in the United States. Defeated by Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva in the last presidential election, Mr Bolsonaro, who left Brazil on December 30, 2022, two days before his opponent’s inauguration, continues to question the result of the election.
“Many people are still shaken by what happened in the elections (…) But we will face this moment and, God willing, we will win together,” he said, believing himself to be “more popular than ever”.
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“I regret what some people did on January 8”
Nine days after his departure, thousands of his supporters marched through the capital, Brasilia, looting places of power such as the Presidential Palace, Congress and the Supreme Court. “I regret what some inconsistent people did on January 8,” admitted Bolsonaro.
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The ex-president’s departure comes two weeks after he was included in an investigation by Brazil’s Supreme Court to determine his role in the attacks on Brasilia. In particular, a judge cited as evidence a video posted on social networks in which Mr Bolsonaro questioned the result of the election.
Jair Bolsonaro has kept a low profile since moving to Orlando, where he lives in the home of former Brazilian martial artist José Aldo. On Monday, he applied for an additional six-month visa to stay in the United States, according to his attorney.