(Orlando) Brazil’s former president Jair Bolsonaro reaffirmed his desire to stay involved in his country’s politics during a reception Tuesday after more than a month of living in Florida, the United States.
“I’m 67 years old and I want to continue to be active in Brazilian politics,” he promised before about 400 supporters gathered in Orlando for Yes Brasil USA, a conservative organization of Brazilian expatriates in the United States.
Defeated by Luis Inacio Lula da Silva in the last presidential election, Mr. Bolsonaro, who left Brazil on December 30, two days before his opponent took office, continues to question the outcome of the ballot.
“A lot of people are still reeling from what happened in the election […] But we will face this moment and, God willing, we will overcome together”, he said, considering himself “more popular than ever”.
Nine days after he left, thousands of his supporters stormed the capital Brasilia, looting places of power such as the presidential palace, Congress and the Supreme Court.
“I regret what some random people did on January 8,” Jair Bolsonaro reiterated.
The ex-president’s ouster comes two weeks after he was included in a trial by Brazil’s Supreme Court to determine his role in the attacks in Brasilia.
A magistrate specifically cited as evidence a video posted on social media in which Mr. Bolsonaro questions the election result.
Jair Bolsonaro has kept a very low profile since moving to Orlando, where he lives in the home of former Brazilian martial arts fighter Jose Alto.
On Monday, he applied for an additional six-month visa to stay in the US, his lawyer said.
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