Jair Bolsonaro, who was the President of Brazil earlier, came to National Harbor, Md., to attend the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) on March 4, 2023. (Evelyn Hockstein/Reuters)
Jair Bolsonaro, the former President of Brazil, is said to be returning to the country on March 30 after spending more than three months in the United States following his election defeat. The country eagerly awaits his return, particularly his conservative Liberal Party (PL), which became the largest party in the Brazilian Congress after last October’s election. The Liberal Party confirmed the news via social media, stating that Bolsonaro would touch down in Brasilia at 7:30 a.m.
Costa Neto, the national president of the PL, expects Bolsonaro to lead the party into the municipal elections next year and become the face of the right-wing opposition to leftist President Lula. With an effective opposition led by Bolsonaro, PL officials believe they can lay the groundwork for a right-wing comeback in the 2026 presidential election, given that Bolsonaro won over 58 million Brazilians in the last election.
Bolsonaro’s prolonged stay in Florida after the inauguration of President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva cost him political capital, said Costa Neto. He also skipped the traditional ritual of passing the presidential sash to his successor.