Brazilian Federal Police (PF) have contacted Argentine authorities to verify whether Flávio Bolsonaro, son of former president Jair Bolsonaro, left Brazil through an Argentine airport following Sunday's presidential election defeat. The PF's move comes after Argentine outlet Infobae reported that Flávio arrived in Puerto Iguazú early Tuesday using his national identity card, allegedly en route to the United States on a private flight.
According to Infobae, the aircraft, a Gulfstream G400 registered LV-JQW and owned by Baires Fly SA, had requested customs clearance for four passengers and three crew members. It reportedly departed Buenos Aires for Puerto Iguazú on Monday at 10:20 pm. PF sources quoted by Metrópoles newspaper said Flávio had not passed through any official Brazilian border checkpoint, but acknowledged that crossing without checks would be possible.
The reports have triggered a flurry of denials. Rogério Marinho, Bolsonaro's general campaign coordinator, insisted that Flávio has not left Brazil. Argentina's government also rejected the claims. Meanwhile, Bolsonaro's allies have been trying to reach him since early Tuesday, according to Letícia Casado, a columnist for UOL news website, without success.
Passport order and political fallout
The speculation follows a ruling by Supreme Federal Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes ordering Flávio to surrender his passports to the PF. Bolsonaro had agreed with his legal team to comply on Tuesday morning, but the handover had not yet occurred, according to reports. The court order is part of an ongoing investigation into alleged attempts to overturn the 2022 election results, which also led to the conviction and imprisonment of Flávio's brother Eduardo, who has been living in the US since 2025.
The controversy comes as Jair Bolsonaro, who lost to leftist President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, initially refused to acknowledge the result, calling the election "impossible" to accept and demanding it be annulled. He later said he would "organise the opposition." US President Donald Trump added to the tension by claiming on Monday that the Brazilian election looked "rigged," without providing evidence. "Elections have to be indisputable, and it looked very bad to me," Trump told reporters.
The developments have drawn attention across the Atlantic, where European observers are watching the stability of Latin America's largest democracy. The EU has maintained close ties with Brazil under Lula, and the bloc's recent support for Lula's environmental agenda underscores the importance of the relationship. Any sign of political turbulence in Brasília could have ripple effects on trade and diplomatic cooperation, particularly on climate and deforestation issues.
As the PF continues its investigation, the question of Flávio's whereabouts remains unresolved. If confirmed, his departure would mark a dramatic escalation in the Bolsonaro family's legal troubles, which already include multiple probes into alleged corruption and attempts to undermine Brazil's electoral system. The case also highlights the growing use of private flights and border crossings to evade judicial orders, a tactic that has become more common among Brazilian politicians facing legal scrutiny.
For now, Brazilian authorities are working with their Argentine counterparts to trace Flávio's movements. The outcome could have significant implications for the political landscape in Brazil, where the Bolsonaro family retains a loyal following despite their legal battles. Meanwhile, the international community, including European capitals, will be watching closely to see whether the rule of law prevails in a country that has become a key partner for the EU on multiple fronts.
