Former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro, who arrived in Florida two days before incumbent Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva was sworn in as president on Jan. 1, said on Saturday that he plans to return to Brazil “in the following weeks.”
Bolsonaro made the comments to Brazilian supporters at an evangelical church event in Boca Raton, Florida. It was the first time he addressed a possible return. The comments come as he faces an investigation for his role in the storming of government buildings by his supporters in Brasilia on Jan. 8.
The Florida event was organized by the right-wing organization Yes Brazil USA. A video was posted by CNN.
“There is no place like home … We know Brazil is a fantastic country,” Bolsonaro said at the event.
“I also want to return to Brazil. I intend to return to Brazil in the coming weeks.”
There have been questions as to whether Bolsonaro would return to Brazil. One of his sons recently told Brazilian media: “It could be tomorrow. It could be in six months. He might never return. I don’t know. He’s relaxing.”
Bolsonaro had settled in the Orlando area with his wife and his political advisers but all have since left Florida.
There has been an outcry about Bolsonaro remaining in the U.S. in a self-imposed exile. On Jan. 11, some House Democrats sent a letter to President Joe Biden to revoke any diplomatic visa that could keep Bolsonaro in the country.
Rep. Joaquin Castro, D-Texas, told CNN that Bolsonaro “should be extradited.”
“In fact, it was reported that he was under investigation for corruption and fled Brazil to the United States. He’s a dangerous man. They should send him back to his home country,” said Castro.
Speaking at a news conference on Jan. 11 at the State Department, Secretary of State Antony Blinken declined to comment on Bolsonaro’s specific case with Brazilian officials about the attacks in Brasilia.
“We’ve not received any specific requests from Brazilian authorities. Of course, if and when we do, we’ll work expeditiously to respond,” Blinken said.
Bolsonaro, 67, served as president from 2019 to 2022. His term was marked by several controversies. In October 2021, tens of thousands of protestors in Rio de Janeiro took to the streets to demand Bolsonaro’s impeachment over his handling of the COVID-19 outbreak.
