Leaving The US And Returning To Brazil To Lead Opposition, Former President Bolsonaro: We're Opening New Sheet

Jair Bolsonaro and Michelle. (Wikimedia Commons/PR Carolina Antunes)

JAKARTA - Former Brazilian far-right President Jair Bolsonaro, who never recognized defeat in last year's election, returned from his exile in Florida on Thursday to lead opposition to left-wing President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva.

Thousands of supporters are expected to welcome him to Brasilia airport when he arrives at around 7 am local time from Orlando. Authorities have stepped up security, closing traffic along the city center to prevent the risk of violent protests.

Before boarding a plane in Orlando, Bolsonaro said he would use his experience to help his party, the Liberal Party (PL), campaigning in local elections, adding a vote in October in which he lost, was a closed round.

"We have opened a new sheet, and now we will prepare for next year's election," he told CNN Brazil, as reported by March 30.

Bolsonaro left for the United States two days before he was scheduled to hand over the presidency to Lula on January 1. At that time, he said he needed rest. However, critics say he is trying to avoid the risk of more than a dozen legal investigations he may face in Brazil.

Legal investigations focused on its attack on Brazil's voting system, allegedly its role in encouraging its supporters to storm government buildings in the January 8 riots, warning of an attack on the US Congress Building in 2021.

Bolsonaro's return to Brazil has been eagerly awaited by party leader Valdemar Costa Neto, who wants Bolsonaro to become the opposition leader of the Lula government and lead the PL in next year's general election.

Costa Neto said Bolsonaro lost political capital by living in Florida and hoped his party could double the number of elected mayors across Brazil with the help of the former president, who could attract many people by fomenting anti-Laula sentiment.

"Bolsonaro will lead the opposition and tour Brazil to donate party liberal values and help PL grow," he told Reuters, outlining plans for a right-wing return in the 2026 presidential election.

However, mobilizing 58 million voters who supported him last year would not be an easy task for the former army captain, according to political analysts. Many potential rival Bolsonaro in the far right has the advantage of holding public office in the coming years.

"If Bolsonaro cannot quickly show that he can lead, the right wing will look for other leaders, such as the Governor of Sao Paulo and Minas Gerais," said Andre Cesar of Hold Legislative Advisors, a public policy consultant.

Bolsonaro has also injured his position with many center-right parties after the January 8 riots by his supporters, as well as an investigation into his attacks on Brazilian democracy, Leonardo Barreto said at Vector Consultancy in Brasilia.

Not only that, his reputation as an anti-corruption fighter has been damaged by alleged attempts to receive jewelry gifts from the king of Saudi Arabia worth US$3.2 million which was confiscated by customs officers in 2021, because it has not been declared.

Bolsonaro must also adapt his plans to the popularity of his wife, Michelle, who emerged as a charismatic figure who runs PL outreach to women. Barreto said Michelle's ambition could be a way out for Bolsonaro's supporters if legal investigations led the election authorities to ban him from running.