Ex-President Jair Bolsonaro Proposed a Coup Plan after 2022 Election Loss: Newly Revealed Testimonies
According to recently uncovered court documents, former President Jair Bolsonaro proposed a coup plan to the top military leaders of Brazil following his defeat in the 2022 presidential elections. The documents, which include testimonies from former army commander Marco Antonio Freire Gomes and former air force commander Carlos de Almeida Baptista Jr., were released by the Brazilian Federal Police to the Supreme Court on Friday.
The Meeting at the Presidential Palace
Bolsonaro reportedly presented this plan during a meeting that took place on December 7, 2022, at the presidential palace in Brasilia. The two military commanders, Gomes and Baptista Jr., both stated in their testimonies that they rejected Bolsonaro’s proposal to stay in power and threatened to arrest him if he persisted with his attempts.
Investigation and Surrender of Passport
As part of a police investigation into an alleged coup attempt, Bolsonaro surrendered his passport to the authorities in early February. The former president has maintained his innocence regarding these allegations.
Bolsonaro’s Recent Public Rally
Despite the ongoing investigation, Bolsonaro recently led a large rally of his supporters in Brazil’s largest city, São Paulo. He asserted that this gathering was in “defense of the democratic rule of law.”
Previous Barring from Political Office
It is important to note that Bolsonaro was previously barred from running for any political office until 2030, as a result of his abuse of power and misuse of public media during the 2022 election campaign. This ban was imposed by Brazil’s highest electoral court.
Post-Election Violence
Following Bolsonaro’s defeat in the election, his supporters rioted and broke into government buildings in Brasilia on January 8, 2023. Bolsonaro has denied any involvement or encouragement of these violent attacks.
Call for Amnesty
Last month, Bolsonaro spoke out in favor of granting “amnesty” for the individuals who were imprisoned as a result of their involvement in the January 8 riots. This statement was made during an interview with News Finder Brasil, according to reports.
In summary, these new testimonies have shed light on Bolsonaro’s alleged plans to stage a coup following his electoral loss in 2022. While he has maintained his innocence, the investigation continues, and the consequences of these events continue to unfold in Brazilian politics.