Flávio Bolsonaro has moved to Miami.

He lost Brazil’s presidential runoff to Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva.

He has refused to concede.

He claims the election was fraudulent.

He gives no evidence for this.

In a letter on Wednesday, the Rio de Janeiro senator said he left Brazil.

He said he is a victim of political and judicial persecution.

His departure came days after the vote.

It has shocked Brazil’s right.

It may add tension to U.S.–Brazil relations.

Bolsonaro has promised to lead the opposition to Lula from abroad.

He told political representatives of his party something.

He said he would say what they cannot say.

He said he would take risks they cannot take.

But analysts say leading from Miami complicates that vow.

They say it leaves a power vacuum on the Brazilian right.

His father is former president Jair Bolsonaro.

His father named him political heir last December.

His father is serving a 27-year sentence for attempting a coup.

Carlos Melo of Insper university said the departure is likely to weaken Flávio Bolsonaro.

He said this is especially true given criticism.

People criticized him because he said he would not flee.

Then he did.

Luciana Santana of the Federal University of Alagoas said the right may keep its influence.

She said this is true despite his departure.

She said this is because of its gains in Congress.

She said the group there can still block proposals.

She said it can negotiate with the government.

She said it can dispute the public agenda.

She said Bolsonaro’s defeat is a setback for the regional far right.

But she said Lula’s win does not necessarily weaken the movement.

She noted Flávio Bolsonaro received nearly 60 million votes.

Santana also said international networks could use his flight.

She said they could use it as a symbol of alleged persecution.

Trump suggested Monday that Lula’s reelection was “rigged.”

He gave no evidence.

A reporter asked about Bolsonaro’s claim to be the “rightful president-elect.”

Trump said he would not comment.

Trump said he had given Bolsonaro a “pass” to enter the country.

Lula’s win makes Brazil a counterweight to Washington.

Lula has deepened trade ties with China.

He has sought influence through BRICS.

Oliver Stuenkel of the Carnegie Endowment said Bolsonaro’s presence in the U.S. adds a new layer of problems.

He said it adds problems to the bilateral relationship.

But he said it is unlikely to be decisive.