Former Brazilian president requests a tourist visa to the US
Former President Jair Bolsonaro, who was defeated in the Brazilian elections, would have requested a 6-month tourist visa to the United States.
Speaking to the BBC, his lawyer, Felipe Alexandre, said Bolsonaro “devoted 34 years of his life to public service and would like to take a break.”
Bolsonaro has been in the US state of Florida since December 30. The former president, who originally went to the US on a 30-day A-1 visa issued to heads of state and diplomats, plans to stay in the US while he awaits the visa.
Alexandre, who works at a law firm dealing with immigration matters, said the former head of state hopes to “clear his head and enjoy a few months of being a tourist in the United States before deciding what to do next.” In a written statement to the BBC, Alexandre claimed that US immigration officials received Bolsonaro’s B1/B2 tourist visa application last Friday.
AT THE DESTINATION OF THE CONGRESS AWARD
Bolsonaro, who traveled to the United States before the inauguration of his left-wing successor, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, is under investigation in Brazil after his supporters stormed key government buildings earlier this month.
On January 8, thousands of supporters of the former president stormed federal buildings in the capital, Brasilia, after his defeat in the 2022 general elections. Bolsonaro has been criticized for violating security and occupying the buildings of the Presidency, Congress and the Court Supreme Court by protesters who believed unsubstantiated accusations of voter fraud.
The former president has expressed “regret” over the turmoil, but argues that it was not caused by him.
The former right-wing leader, nicknamed the “Donald Trump of the tropics” for his closeness to former US President Donald Trump, is staying at the Florida home of former martial arts athlete José Aldo.
Democratic Party lawmakers oppose Bolsonaro’s stay in the United States. In a letter sent earlier this month, dozens of lawmakers called on US President Joe Biden to revoke Bolsonaro’s diplomatic visa.