President Lula defeated candidate Bolsonaro in the runoff of the Brazilian presidential election to achieve an unprecedented fourth term. This marks the first time since the revival of the direct presidential election system in 1989 that a candidate who placed second in the first round has staged a comeback in the runoff.

Flavio Bolsonaro, who suffered defeat, took issue with the extension of voting hours and demanded the election be invalidated. However, he withdrew the demand after U.S. President Trump stated that he would not interfere in Brazil's domestic affairs.

Afterwards, when the Supreme Court ordered a travel ban and the submission of his passport, he departed for the United States without even leaving immigration records. Reports indicate that the U.S. allowed his entry through the direct approval of President Trump.

His departure is analyzed to be driven by two criminal cases—allegations of money laundering through a sports betting company and corruption solicitation charges—along with the impending loss of his parliamentary immunity as his term as a senator ends in February next year.

Four years ago, his father, Jair Bolsonaro, also left for the United States after a defeat, and is currently under house arrest after being sentenced to 27 years in prison on charges of plotting a coup. Analysts point out that the story of this father and son encapsulates the ideological conflict between the left and the right in South America.

Reported by Jang Hun-gyeong | Edited by Kim In-seon | Designed by Cho Seung-hyun | Produced by SBS Intellectual Contents IP Team