Weeks after fleeing Brazil, Jair Bolsonaro has now applied for a tourist visa in the United States. Fearing for his safety should he return to his homeland, he is frantically scurrying about in a bid to extend his stay, to atleast 6 months.
The former Brazilian President, who lost the 2022 general elections, fled the capital as his supporters rioted in the Presidential office, Congress and Supreme Court in Brazil. Accused of conspiring with the rioters, he is now being investigated by the authorities.
A sala da Liderança do @PTnaCamara foi totalmente destruída pelos terroristas Bolsonaristas. O mundo está conhecendo o DNA da gangue que atacabou a democracia Brasileira mais uma vez. pic.twitter.com/FRe0OWIA23
— Paulo Pimenta (@Pimenta13Br) January 9, 2023
The “Trump of the Tropics” is currently on a diplomatic visit to the US and has been staying in Florida ever since. According to his spokesperson, the former president intends to “clear his head and enjoy being a tourist in the United States for a few months before deciding what his next step will be.”
Though, the reason is something else.
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Lula’s revenge
As soon as President Lula Da Silva took power in Brazil, he vowed to crack down on the Bolsonaro protestors. He fired the then army chief and attacked the authorities for their inability to contain the violence. And as the Supreme Court of Brazil gave a nod to investigate Bolsonaro, it became clear why he has been avoiding returning to his home country.
Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva said his intelligence services had failed on Jan. 8, when Brasilia buildings were stormed by supporters of far-right former President Jair Bolsonaro https://t.co/DAaNOEsaMP pic.twitter.com/vdmPEE96Nk
— Reuters (@Reuters) January 20, 2023
Back when Bolsonaro was the President, he had a big role to play in implicating Lula in a corruption case. As a result, Lula was jailed in 2017. Though, the convictions were annulled later, it drove a permanent wedge between both the politicians. Supporters of the leftist politician termed it a vendetta against their leader who was the target of the US regime.
Lula had scores to settle and Bolsonaro gave him the perfect opportunity. The riots have given Lula even more power to crack down on Bolsonaro sympathisers harshly.
Even though Bolsonaro has regretted the violence, he has strictly denied any part in it. But he still rejects the results of the elections. The former President did not attend the Presidential inauguration ceremony either.
Backed into a corner
The siege of January 8th has isolated Bolsonaro at both domestic and international platform. Many Latin American nations have condemned the violence. With the defeat of Trump- his close ally in the States, Bolsonaro has found himself even more isolated.
Colombian President Gustavo Petro expressed his disapproval, “fascism [had] decided to stage a coup” while Colombia and Mexico have offered their full support to President Lula. Even USA has distanced itself from Bolsonaro post the violence. US President Joe Biden condemned “the assault on democracy and on the peaceful transfer of power in Brazil”, while Germany’s Chancellor Olaf Scholz said the “attack on democracy…cannot be tolerated”. Interestingly, Trump has made no comments on the events as of yet.
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I condemn the assault on democracy and on the peaceful transfer of power in Brazil. Brazil’s democratic institutions have our full support and the will of the Brazilian people must not be undermined. I look forward to continuing to work with @LulaOficial.
— President Biden (@POTUS) January 8, 2023
Deeply concerned about the news of rioting and vandalism against the State institutions in Brasilia. Democratic traditions must be respected by everyone. We extend our full support to the Brazilian authorities. @LulaOficial
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) January 9, 2023
Other nations like UK, Turkey and China have also condemned the violence. Contrary to Bolsonaro’s claims of the elections being rigged, the leaders of the world have accepted Lula Da Silva as the democratically elected President of Brazil.
It remains to be seen whether Bolsonaro’s request is accepted or not. If it isn’t, he will face the music back at home. And going by the current wave against him, it wouldn’t be pretty.
