The outgoing president of Brazil, Jair Bolsonaro, flies to Florida avoiding giving the pass to Lula da Silva

By Reuters via

Outgoing Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro landed in Florida on Friday after tearfully delivering a message to his supporters, less than two days before his staunch left-wing rival Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva is sworn in as president. .

An official Brazilian plane landed in Orlando, Florida, late on Friday, the FlightAware flight tracking website showed.

Although Bolsonaro's destination has not been officially confirmed, his security personnel are already in Florida.

Bolsonaro's departure from Brazil came

to Lula at Sunday's inauguration, breaking with Brazil's democratic tradition.

He may also face legal risks for staying in Brazil since his presidential immunity expires when Lula takes office.

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Supporters of outgoing Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro hold a demonstration against the results of the presidential elections in a makeshift camp in front of the Army headquarters in Brasilia, on December 29, 2022.EVARISTO SA / AFP via Getty Images

His departure followed an

on social media earlier on Friday, in which he reviewed the highlights of his time in office, sought to uphold his legacy and tried to inspire his supporters to continue the fight against Lula. .

Vice President Hamilton Mourao is now interim president after Bolsonaro left the country, his press office said.

But Mourao will not hand over the presidential sash to Lula, a spokesman said, raising questions about who will make the ceremonial handover.

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The presidential plane left Brasilia shortly after 2:00 p.m. local time.

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," Bolsonaro was quoted as saying by CNN Brazil earlier in the day.

Bolsonaro asks to invalidate the elections in Brazil that he lost to Lula

Nov 23, 202200:18

His press office did not respond to a Reuters request for comment.

The US State Department also did not respond to a request for comment.

The US embassy in Brasilia referred Reuters questions about Bolsonaro's trip to the office of the Brazilian president.

Bolsonaro's departure comes after weeks of silence from the president, after losing the presidential elections, which were the most tense in Brazil in a generation.

Some of Bolsonaro's supporters

, believing his unsubstantiated claims that the October election was stolen.

That has contributed to

in the capital Brasilia, with riots and a foiled attack last week.

In his speech on social media, Bolsonaro called the alleged bomb plot a "terrorist act" for which there was no justification.

He sought to distance himself from George Washington Sousa, the man who confessed to making the bomb and who told police that

of explosives.

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"The man had ideas that are not shared by any citizen, but now they classify him as a 'Bolsonarista'," said the president.

However, Bolsonaro also

across the country, urging the military to stage a coup.

A supporter of Brazil's President Jair Bolsonaro wears a suit with an image of Bolsonaro, in front of the Alvorada Palace in Brasilia, Brazil, December 22, 2022.UESLEI MARCELINO/REUTERS

"I didn't encourage anyone to get into a confrontation," he said, adding that his supporters were simply seeking "freedom."

He said the protests had been "spontaneous", without leadership or coordination.

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Bolsonaro's quick departure was a disappointment to many on the right, where his reputation has suffered from his post-election silence.

Some of his staunch supporters at the entrance to the Palacio de la Alvorada, the presidential residence where he resided,

about him, a Reuters witness said.

Others felt abandoned by his departure.

“It feels like my boyfriend has left me,” Deise Casela, a 57-year-old widow, said as she touched the Brazilian flag that was lowered after Bolsonaro left the residence.

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."