Bolsonaro speaks for the first time from the US after his electoral defeat in Brazil: “I don’t know why I lost”

(CNN Spanish) –– Former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro dedicated his first political speech since leaving office to highlight his achievements as president and criticize socialism.

In Miami, in front of some 400 people at the Power of the People event, organized by Turning Point USA —an organization focused on conservative youth in the United States—, Bolsonaro boasted achievements in his administration such as low inflation and economic opportunities, as well as a better situation in the freedoms of Brazilians, according to his words.

“Brazil was about to face a moral crisis,” said the former president, referring to the condition in which he took office in 2019 and arguing that his progress is in jeopardy under the new government headed by President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva.

“We know that the left seeks equality, but they want equality in poverty,” he said.

Questions from moderator Charlie Kirk, president of Turning Point USA, focused on what he calls “the danger of socialism” and what the United States could learn from what happened in Brazil.

Bolsonaro pointed to Venezuela as an example of the failings in a country that, he said, is rich in natural resources and oil, but whose people live in poverty.

“We realize that the countries that choose the left in Latin America follow the same path to poverty,” he said.

At no time did he mention or suggest irregularities in the last elections where he lost to Lula da Silva. He also did not speak about the assault on the three seats of power in Brasilia by some of his supporters days after the presidential transition.

“I don’t know why I lost” (the election), he said, as the audience responded in Portuguese “they stole it,” as he smiled from the podium.

The event was held at Trump National Doral Miami, owned by former President Donald Trump.