The office of Brazil’s vice chairman says he has change into acting president, a sign that President Jair Bolsonaro has left the country and can break tradition by skipping the inauguration Sunday of his political nemesis, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva.
The press office of Bolsonaro’s vice chairman, Gen. Hamilton Mourão, confirmed to journalists he was acting as president. The handoff of power to the vice chairman occurs every time Brazil’s president travels abroad.
The Friday edition of the official gazette said that Bolsonaro is headed to Florida, and that several officials got permission to accompany “the long run ex-president” to Miami between Jan. 1 and Jan. 30, to supply “advice, security and private support.”
In keeping with flight tracking web sites, the Brazilian military’s official airplane left the capital, Brasilia, around 2 p.m. for Orlando.
In Bolsonaro’s absence, it is just not clear who will hand over the presidential sash to Lula on Sunday. Mourão’s press office said that is just not a part of the vice chairman’s duties.
Bolsonaro has remained mostly silent since losing the election Oct. 30. But a couple of hours before reports of his departure, he addressed the country as president on his social media.
At times on the verge of tears, the far-right politician said he wasn’t capable of discover a legal alternative or enough support to vary the course of history and stop his departure from office.
“How difficult it has been to remain quiet for 2 months, working to search out alternatives,” he said. “For those who’re upset, put yourself in my place. I gave my life to this country.”
Bolsonaro also condemned a recent bomb threat in Brasilia, saying it was not the time to attack people, but somewhat to try to construct an opposition against the long run government.
“We lost a battle, but we won’t lose the war,” he said. “The world doesn’t end on Jan. 1.”
A crowd of supporters stood outside the presidential residence in a pouring rain listening for an indication from their leader, and plenty of were left dissatisfied. Some shouted the words “traitor” and “coward.” One woman cried.
Since his electoral loss, a few of Bolsonaro’s most die-hard supporters have been camping outside military buildings in Brasilia and elsewhere within the country, asking for the armed forces to intervene. Many believed election results were fraudulent or unreliable, and hoped Bolsonaro would by some means remain in power.
Others have blocked roads and highways, or set buses and trucks on fire. Police are also investigating the attempted invasion of the federal police’s headquarters in Brasilia earlier this month, and said many of the 32 individuals they’re searching for have had contacts with the Brasilia pro-Bolsonaro encampment.
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Jeantet reported from Rio de Janeiro. Associated Press photojournalist Eraldo Peres in Brasilia contributed to this report.
The office of Brazil’s vice chairman says he has change into acting president, a sign that President Jair Bolsonaro has left the country and can break tradition by skipping the inauguration Sunday of his political nemesis, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva.
The press office of Bolsonaro’s vice chairman, Gen. Hamilton Mourão, confirmed to journalists he was acting as president. The handoff of power to the vice chairman occurs every time Brazil’s president travels abroad.
The Friday edition of the official gazette said that Bolsonaro is headed to Florida, and that several officials got permission to accompany “the long run ex-president” to Miami between Jan. 1 and Jan. 30, to supply “advice, security and private support.”
In keeping with flight tracking web sites, the Brazilian military’s official airplane left the capital, Brasilia, around 2 p.m. for Orlando.
In Bolsonaro’s absence, it is just not clear who will hand over the presidential sash to Lula on Sunday. Mourão’s press office said that is just not a part of the vice chairman’s duties.
Bolsonaro has remained mostly silent since losing the election Oct. 30. But a couple of hours before reports of his departure, he addressed the country as president on his social media.
At times on the verge of tears, the far-right politician said he wasn’t capable of discover a legal alternative or enough support to vary the course of history and stop his departure from office.
“How difficult it has been to remain quiet for 2 months, working to search out alternatives,” he said. “For those who’re upset, put yourself in my place. I gave my life to this country.”
Bolsonaro also condemned a recent bomb threat in Brasilia, saying it was not the time to attack people, but somewhat to try to construct an opposition against the long run government.
“We lost a battle, but we won’t lose the war,” he said. “The world doesn’t end on Jan. 1.”
A crowd of supporters stood outside the presidential residence in a pouring rain listening for an indication from their leader, and plenty of were left dissatisfied. Some shouted the words “traitor” and “coward.” One woman cried.
Since his electoral loss, a few of Bolsonaro’s most die-hard supporters have been camping outside military buildings in Brasilia and elsewhere within the country, asking for the armed forces to intervene. Many believed election results were fraudulent or unreliable, and hoped Bolsonaro would by some means remain in power.
Others have blocked roads and highways, or set buses and trucks on fire. Police are also investigating the attempted invasion of the federal police’s headquarters in Brasilia earlier this month, and said many of the 32 individuals they’re searching for have had contacts with the Brasilia pro-Bolsonaro encampment.
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Jeantet reported from Rio de Janeiro. Associated Press photojournalist Eraldo Peres in Brasilia contributed to this report.
