Brazil's Bolsonaro flies to Florida, avoiding Lula handover - Reuters Canada

BRASILIA, Dec 30 (Reuters) - President Jair Bolsonaro near Brazil for the United States connected Friday, 48 hours earlier his leftist rival President-elect Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva was acceptable to instrumentality office, saying successful a teary goodbye code helium had "lost a conflict but not the war."

Bolsonaro, who has hardly spoken since losing the election, has not confirmed wherever helium is going, but level tracking information suggests helium is heading to Florida, wherever his information unit are already successful place.

He has repeatedly said helium would not manus implicit the statesmanlike sash to Lula astatine Sunday's inauguration, breaking with Brazil's antiauthoritarian tradition.

He whitethorn besides look ineligible risks from remaining successful Brazil arsenic his statesmanlike immunity expires erstwhile Lula takes office.

Vice President Hamilton Mourao is present acting president, his property bureau told Reuters, confirming Bolsonaro had near the country. But Mourao volition not walk the statesmanlike sash to Lula either, a spokesperson said, raising questions astir who volition manus implicit the ceremonial ribbon to the leftist.

Website FlightAware, which monitors aerial traffic, showed the statesmanlike level departed Brasilia soon aft 2pm section time, bound for Orlando, Florida.

"I americium successful flight, backmost soon," Bolsonaro was quoted arsenic saying by CNN Brasil. His property bureau did not respond to a petition for comment.

The U.S. State Department did not instantly respond to a petition for comment. The U.S. embassy successful Brasilia referred questions astir Bolsonaro's travel to the Brazilian president's office.

FINAL WORDS

Before takeoff, Bolsonaro delivered an affectional last code connected societal media successful which helium ran done the highlights of his clip successful office, sought to support his legacy, and tried to animate his followers into keeping up the combat against Lula.

Some of his basal person refused to judge Lula's victory, believing Bolsonaro's baseless claims that the October predetermination was stolen. That has contributed to a tense ambiance successful the superior Brasilia, with riots and a foiled weaponry crippled past week.

Bolsonaro labeled the weaponry crippled a "terrorist act" for which determination was nary justification. He sought to region himself from George Washington Sousa, the antheral who confessed to making the bomb, and who told constabulary that Bolsonaro's telephone to arms inspired him to physique an arsenal of guns and explosives.

"The antheral had ideas that are not shared by immoderate citizen, but present they classify him arsenic a 'Bolsonarista'," the president said.

However, Bolsonaro besides praised protesters who person been camping extracurricular service barracks crossed the country, urging the subject to signifier a coup.

"I did not promote anyone to participate confrontation," helium said, adding that his supporters had simply been seeking "freedom." He said the protests had been "spontaneous," with nary enactment oregon coordination.

Bolsonaro's swift exit is simply a disappointment for galore connected the right, wherever his estimation has taken a beating for his post-election silence. His governmental associates privation him to pb the blimpish absorption to Lula with a presumption to ousting him successful the adjacent predetermination successful 2026.

Some of his diehard supporters astatine the entranceway of the Alvorada Palace, the statesmanlike residence wherever helium lived, called him a "coward" during his speech, according to a Reuters witness.

Others felt abandoned by his departure.

"It feels arsenic if my fellow has near me," said Deise Casela, a 57-year-old widow, touching the Brazilian emblem that was lowered aft Bolsonaro near the residence. "I americium mourning again."

Reporting by Ricardo Brito, Gabriel Araujo, Ueslei Marcelino and Anthony Boadle; Editing by Rosalba O'Brien

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