Bolsonaro charged: Coup plot against Lula unveiled in report
Former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro is facing accusations of conspiracy to overthrow the democratically elected government of Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva. This information was revealed in a recently declassified police report.
Last week, the Brazilian federal police formally charged Jair Bolsonaro and 36 of his associates with involvement in a conspiracy to overthrow the government.
The final report, which spans 884 pages, was submitted to the Supreme Court, which then declassified it. The report indicates the former president's direct involvement in criminal activities related to the coup attempt.
During one of Bolsonaro's meetings with commanders of the armed forces, a coup plan was presented. As reported by Reuters, Navy Admiral Almir Garnier expressed support for this plan, unlike the army and air force commanders, who refused. The report shows that Bolsonaro was also aware of plans to assassinate the newly elected President Lula and Vice President-elect Geraldo Alckmin.
"It will be either a civil war now or civil war later. We have a justification now for civil war. People are on the streets. We have massive support (...). Let’s do this now. Speak to 01 - says Colonel Roberto Raimundo Criscuoli, a high-ranking army special forces officer, in one of the recordings. "01" is a term used in reference to the President of Brazil.
Arrests and proceedings
Five people, including four high-ranking officers, were arrested due to suspicions regarding the coup plans. Bolsonaro denies any wrongdoing. Attorney General Paulo Gonet will decide on further proceedings against him. The accusations that the former president questioned the election results he lost without providing evidence of election fraud have also resurfaced.
After losing the 2022 elections, Bolsonaro left Brazil and went to the USA, an action commented on as an attempt to avoid accountability. His supporters demanded that the military side with Bolsonaro, and a week after Lula's inauguration, they stormed key government buildings in Brasilia, causing damage.
The court banned Bolsonaro from running for re-election until 2030, citing attempts to undermine democracy.
