Following his defeat in the presidential runoff election, Brazilian Senator Flávio Bolsonaro has been ordered by the Supreme Court to surrender his passports within 24 hours and is legally barred from leaving the country.

 

Brazil: defeated Flávio Bolsonaro ordered to surrender passports

Following his defeat in the presidential runoff election, Brazilian Senator Flávio Bolsonaro has been ordered by the Supreme Court to surrender his passports within 24 hours and is legally barred from leaving the country.

The Election Context

The passport order came directly after the official results of the 2026 presidential runoff election were certified:

26 Oct, 07:46

From Superior Electoral Court (TSE) via Reuters

2026 Brazil Presidential election Round 2

Lula wins. Superior Electoral Court (TSE) has called this race. 100,00% reporting. Official results.

Lula

51,79%

Workers' Party

64.256.232 votes

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Flávio Bolsonaro

48,21%

Liberal Party

59.826.041 votes

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Invalid/null

-

4.153.801 votes

Core Details of the Court Ruling

• The Mandate: Issued by Supreme Federal Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes, the confidential ruling cancels all of Bolsonaro’s passports—including his diplomatic passport as a sitting congressman—and orders him to turn them over to the Federal Police.
• Criminal Investigation: The ruling is tied to an ongoing federal criminal inquiry regarding a massive money-laundering and illegal foreign exchange scheme. The police suspect that hundreds of millions of pounds were laundered through links to betting companies.
• Restricted Contacts: The court has explicitly prohibited Bolsonaro from having any contact with his associate, lawyer Willer Tomaz, who is a co-target in the money-laundering probe.
• Flight Risk Concerns: The restriction reportedly stems in part from recent public remarks made by the candidate's brother, Eduardo Bolsonaro, who suggested during a podcast that Flávio should flee Brazil if he lost the election.

Bolsonaro's Response

Flávio Bolsonaro confirmed he received the police notification on Monday on the streets of Brasília right after visiting his father, former president Jair Bolsonaro (who is currently under house arrest). In a video broadcast on social media, the younger Bolsonaro denied any intention of fleeing the country, stated he would comply with the passport order, and vowed to legally defend himself against the corruption allegations