How Brazilian police say Bolsonaro plotted a coup to stay in office
Brazil’s Federal Police have formally accused former President Jair Bolsonaro and 36 others of planning a coup to keep him in office. The agency has described a detailed scheme, backed by evidence and testimony, in an 884-page report. The plan included steps such as sowing distrust of the electoral system, drafting a decree to give the plot a legal basis, pressuring military leaders, and inciting a riot in the capital.
The investigation alleges that efforts to spread fake news about Brazil’s electronic voting system began in 2019 but intensified as Bolsonaro’s 2022 reelection bid approached. Pro-Bolsonaro social media accounts, influencers, and politicians allegedly spread propaganda claiming the voting system could be tampered with. Bolsonaro himself expressed admiration for Brazil’s military dictatorship and raised doubts about the integrity of the electoral process.
The report also details a draft decree found at the home of Bolsonaro’s former justice minister, which sought to create a committee to investigate alleged fraud in the 2022 election. The decree aimed to suspend the powers of the top electoral court and possibly call for a new election. While the navy’s commander was reportedly willing to comply, army and air force leaders objected to the plan.
In addition, the investigation uncovered a plot to assassinate president-elect Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, vice-president-elect Geraldo Alckmin, and Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes. The plan allegedly aimed to leave Bolsonaro’s ticket as the only valid one in the 2022 runoff. General Walter Braga Netto, Bolsonaro’s former running mate, was implicated in greenlighting the assassination plan.
The report also links Bolsonaro and his allies to the Jan. 8, 2023 riot in Brasilia, where supporters ransacked government buildings in an attempt to force military intervention and oust President Lula. While defendants have dismissed the riot as an isolated event, the report suggests a connection to the broader coup plot.
Prosecutor-General Paulo Gonet will now decide whether to charge the accused parties, dismiss the investigation, or request more testimony. Bolsonaro and his allies deny any involvement and accuse authorities of political persecution. Legal experts have noted the gravity of the evidence presented in the report and the potential implications for those implicated in the alleged coup plot. The investigation continues to unfold as Brazil grapples with the aftermath of these shocking revelations.
