The unexpected gift Brazil's president received from his biggest rival

Flávio Bolsonaro fled Brazil to the US after refusing to comply with a Supreme Court order to surrender his passports, declaring himself the legitimate leader. According to a Reuters analysis, the move weakens the conservative camp and strengthens President Lula da Silva's position.

Flávio Bolsonaro, the political rival of Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, fled Brazil to the United States after refusing to comply with a Supreme Court order to surrender his passports, declaring himself the legitimate leader of the country. According to an analysis by Reuters news agency, published on Thursday (29) and based on conversations with political commentators and Brazilian government officials, the move is expected to weaken the conservative camp in Brazil and give Lula an opportunity to consolidate his rule after his presidential election victory. The headline calls this an 'unexpected gift' for Lula, but the body does not describe an actual gift but rather an indirect political outcome.