Outgoing Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro left Brazil for the United States on Friday, two days before the end of his term and the inauguration of his successor, Luis Inacio Lula da Silva, according to several local media.
Thus, it became clear that the right-wing Bolsonaro will not attend next Sunday the inauguration ceremony of the new left-wing president, who was supposed to hand over the presidential sash to him according to the protocol.
And after bidding farewell to his supporters on Friday, in his first statement on social networks since his electoral defeat, Bolsonaro boarded an Air Force plane at around 14:00 local time (17:00 GMT), according to the newspapers "O Globo" and "Estadao". CNN Brasil and UOL News.
Those working for President Bolsonaro - who still support him after his term ends and are paid by the taxpayers - have already secured approvals for them to travel to the United States throughout January.
"I'm on a flight, I'll be back soon," Bolsonaro told CNN Brasil.
In a speech before his departure, Bolsonaro said, "The world will not stop on January 1 (...) There is a great future ahead of us."
Referring to the day his successor assumed the presidency.
"We lose battles, but we don't lose the war," added the outgoing president - who was narrowly defeated by Lula in the October elections.
Bolsonaro went directly to his supporters who are still camping in front of the army barracks and in front of the army headquarters in Brasilia and in other cities to demand military intervention to prevent Lula from taking office.
"I never expected to get here," he added, crying, "at least we postponed the collapse of Brazil from this harmful left-wing ideology by 4 years."
He also said "I gave my best".
Since Lula da Silva's victory at the end of October, Bolsonaro has not appeared, and lives almost isolated in Brasilia, away from the limelight.