In his first interview – granted to The Wall Street Journal – since leaving Brazil and the presidency on December 30, 2022, and taking refuge in Orlando, Florida, former president Jair Bolsonaro stated that he plans to return to Brazil next month to lead the opposition.
The statements come at a time when the former president, who no longer enjoys presidential immunity, is being investigated for several cases, including incitement to the invasion of government buildings that occurred on January 8 in Brasília.
“The right-wing movement is not dead and will live on,” Bolsonaro told the publication, making clear his plans to lead the opposition against current president Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, who won by a narrow margin in the second round of last year’s elections.
Bolsonaro said he intends to join forces with his allies in Congress to push for economic liberalization, restrict abortion rights, and fight against gun control. While an ally of Lula is leading the Senate, the Chamber is filled with Bolsonaro supporters and is led by one of the former president’s allies.
In the interview, Bolsonaro – who had raised doubts about the country’s electronic voting system before the election – offered a more softened opinion on his defeat. “Losing is part of the electoral process,” he told The Wall Street Journal, adding: “I’m not saying there was fraud, but the process was biased.”
Bolsonaro also made it clear that he does not believe the January 8 invasion was an attempted coup. “Coup? What coup? Where was the commander? Where were the troops? Where were the bombs?” questioned the retired military officer, who does not believe he should be held responsible for the attacks, as he “wasn’t even there.”