Hardly anyone in the US seemed to take notice of Bolsonaro’s stay in Florida.
(Photo: dpa)
Miami After the storming of Brazil’s government district by his radical supporters, ex-President Jair Bolsonaro is planning an early return from Florida to his homeland. His return trip was originally planned for the end of January, Bolsonaro told the Brazilian branch of the broadcaster CNN on Tuesday (local time).
But he will now prefer his return home. “I came to be away with my family for a while, but those weren’t quiet days,” he said. “First there was this sad episode in Brazil and then I was admitted to the hospital.”
At the end of December, Bolsonaro traveled to Florida and thus stayed away from the inauguration of the old and new President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, who defeated him in the runoff election for the highest state office at the end of October.
Lula is the first elected head of state in Brazil since the return to democracy in the 1980s not to receive the presidential sash from his predecessor. Bolsonaro is said to have stayed at the home of Brazilian martial artist José Aldo in the greater Orlando area. His host is considered an ardent supporter of the right-wing conservative ex-president.
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Hardly anyone in the US seemed to take notice of Bolsonaro’s stay in Florida until thousands of his radical supporters stormed Congress, the Supreme Court and the presidential palace in Brasilía on Sunday. The intruders smashed windows, smashed computers and damaged works of art, among other things.
Criticism by US Democrats
The US Democrats in particular were soon expressing unease about Bolsonaro’s continued presence on American soil. Many also referred to the storming of the US Capitol by supporters of ex-President Donald Trump on January 6, 2021, who wanted to prevent the confirmation of Joe Biden’s election victory.
Bolsonaro’s supporters had stormed the country’s government district.
(Photo: AP)
“Nearly two years to the day the Capitol was attacked by fascists, we are seeing fascist movements abroad trying to do the same thing in Brazil,” said Democratic Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. “The US must stop granting sanctuary to Bolsonaro in Florida.”
More: President Lula distrusts the military after storming government quarters