According to the testimonies of the former commanders of Brazil’s Army and Air Force, President Jair Bolsonaro held meetings with them twice to discuss a potential coup after his election loss in 2022. The Supreme Court released their testimonies on Friday, revealing Bolsonaro’s involvement in a plan to declare martial law to prevent leftist President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva from taking power after his electoral victory.
Despite growing evidence, Bolsonaro has denied any involvement in a coup following his election defeat, which he did not accept. Instead of handing over power to Lula, he traveled to the United States, while his supporters tried to incite a coup by storming government buildings.
Bolsonaro’s lawyers have not responded to requests for comment on the allegations made by former Army commander Marco Antonio Freire Gomes and Air Force commander Carlos de Almeida Baptista. Both military leaders stated that they refused to support a coup when approached by Bolsonaro, effectively thwarting his plans.
During the meetings, both commanders implicated Navy commander Almir Garnier Santos in the coup discussions, suggesting that the admiral was prepared to support Bolsonaro in a potential military uprising. Garnier Santos has not publicly addressed the investigation conducted by the Federal Police under the Supreme Court’s directives.
Additional witnesses have reportedly implicated Bolsonaro as the mastermind behind the attempted coup, according to a police source. The investigation is expected to reveal a detailed timeline of Bolsonaro’s efforts to orchestrate a coup with government members and military officials, both active and retired.
The former military commanders stated that the meetings with Bolsonaro occurred at the presidential residence. Freire Gomes disclosed that Bolsonaro presented a draft decree for declaring a state of siege during one of the meetings, which matched a draft found on the computer of Bolsonaro’s aide Mauro Cid, who is currently in custody and cooperating with authorities.
During a third meeting with then-Defense Minister Paulo Sergio Nogueira to discuss the draft decree, the military commanders inquired if the text implied preventing president-elect Lula from assuming office. When Nogueira did not provide a clear answer, they chose to reject the decree and refuse any involvement in the coup plans.
As the investigation progresses, more details are expected to emerge regarding Bolsonaro’s alleged involvement in the coup plot. The sensitive nature of the case has led to anonymity for sources providing information on the ongoing probe. The revelations from the testimonies of the military commanders shed light on the inner workings of the attempted coup orchestrated by Bolsonaro.
Reported by Lisandra Paraguassu and Ricardobrito; Written by Anthony Boadle; Edited by Bill Berkrot
