Sixty million Brazilians voted for Bolsonaro in an election won by incumbent President Lula da Silva, according to reporting by nos.nl, triggering a political crisis marked by the departure of Flávio Bolsonaro to the United States and divisions within his Partido Liberal.
Flávio Bolsonaro Flees to the United States Without a Passport
Na zijn vlucht, met een privévliegtuig via Argentinië en Ecuador, landde Flávio Bolsonaro in Miami, waar hij een visum kreeg van de Amerikaanse president Trump. Brazilian justice officials had given him twenty-four hours to surrender his passport following ongoing investigations into corruption and money laundering. While his party, the Partido Liberal, formally recognized Lula da Silva’s victory, Flávio published a letter from abroad declaring himself the “werkelijke en rechtmatige president van Brazilië” before later changing the title to “leider van Brazilië”. US Secretary of State Rubio denied direct US involvement in the flight over the weekend, though media reports indicate the Trump administration played a key backstage role.
Voter Reactions Reveal Sharp Polarization Across the Country
Reactions among the sixty million citizens who cast ballots for the right-wing coalition remain deeply split. Uber driver Henrique Santos Silva told nos.nl that he understands the departure because the judiciary is not impartial and would have hunted him down like his father, Jair Bolsonaro, who is serving a 27-year sentence for an attempted coup. Conversely, colleague Diogo Neto expressed disappointment, stating that an innocent person has no reason to flee. Meanwhile, voters like Gonçalo Ferreira shifted their support from Bolsonaro to Lula in the runoff vote after conversations with younger family members exposed concerns about the power a Bolsonaro presidency would yield in the National Congress, as reported by NRC.
Digital Campaigns and the Vira Voto Movement Turn the Tide
Lula da Silva ultimately secured victory with a margin of four million votes, representing 52 percent against 48 percent for Bolsonaro, according to NRC. The comeback relied heavily on dialogue and the grassroots ‘vira voto’ campaign spearheaded by students like Maria Donato on university campuses. Prominent campaigners such as André Janones utilized WhatsApp channels like Exército do Lula to reach millions of voters. This digital mobilization countered the polarization and convinced disillusioned voters to support the Workers’ Party (PT).
Party Fallout and the Road to 2030
The Partido Liberal faces a complex internal reckoning following the election results and Flávio’s unauthorized exit. Party president Costa Neto publicly condemned the proclamations, noting that the leadership was kept entirely in the dark about the escape plan. Despite these fractures, the party expanded its footprint significantly in the National Congress, securing seats in both the Chamber of Deputies and the Senate for multiple family members, including the wife of Jair Bolsonaro, Michelle. Flávio Bolsonaro has already signaled an intention to run for the presidency again in 2030, leaving the party to face a powerful opposition block against an 81-year-old Lula starting his fourth and final term.
Frequently Asked Questions About the Brazilian Political Crisis
Why did Flávio Bolsonaro travel to the United States?
Na zijn vlucht, met een privévliegtuig via Argentinië en Ecuador, landde Flávio Bolsonaro in Miami, waar hij een visum kreeg van de Amerikaanse president Trump.
/s3/static.nrc.nl/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/30094315/301026WEE_2037875538_4.jpg "Photo: NRC")
How large was Lula da Silva’s winning margin in the election?
Lula da Silva won the runoff election with a four-million-vote lead, capturing 52 percent of the total vote compared to 48 percent for his opponent, according to reporting by NRC.
What sentence is Jair Bolsonaro currently serving?
Jair Bolsonaro is serving a 27-year prison sentence following a conviction for an attempted coup, as detailed by nos.nl.