Brazil: Jair Bolsonaro Meets Military Officers to Plan Coup, Says Aide

A close associate of former Brazil President Jair Bolsonaro has reportedly provided information to the police, suggesting that the ex-president held discussions with senior military officials last year about the possibility of a Brazil coup to overturn the election results he lost.

Jair Bolsonaro's former aide, Mauro Cid, recently agreed to cooperate with Federal Police, who are investigating various potential crimes committed by the former president, ranging from embezzlement to allegedly inciting his supporters' January riots in the capital, Brasília.

Cid's testimony has been kept confidential by the police as part of their ongoing investigation, according to Reuters.

Mauro Cid allegedly informed the police that Bolsonaro had explored the idea of issuing a decree to nullify the election, according to the reports published on Thursday (which did not specify their sources).

Mauro Cid's lawyers have not responded to requests for comments on these reports, and the Federal Police have declined to comment on the ongoing investigation.

Brazil Former President Jair Bolsonaro's Populist Rise and Recent Election Loss

Jair Bolsonaro, a former army captain, came to power through democratic means in 2018, riding a wave of anti-establishment sentiment.

However, following his failure to secure re-election in October of the previous year, suspicions arose that the 68-year-old populist leader may have contemplated alternative ways to maintain his grip on power.

Jair Bolsonaro's former aide, Mauro Cid, informed federal police that one such scheme was presented to Bolsonaro after his electoral defeat by his left-wing rival, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, according to the UOL news website.

The Brazil coup proposal, allegedly shown to Bolsonaro by a former foreign policy adviser named Filipe Martins, reportedly outlined plans for calling new elections and the potential arrest of political opponents.

It is said that Bolsonaro and Martins held a "secret meeting" on December 18, 2022, per The Guardian.

Mauro Cid, who entered a plea deal with the police after being arrested in May, reportedly told investigators that Bolsonaro had subsequently discussed this plan during a meeting with high-ranking military officials.

The then-commander of the navy, Admiral Almir Garnier, expressed support for the "putschist plan."

However, the head of the army's high command rejected the idea.

Meanwhile, Mauro Cid had informed investigators that the navy commander had advised Bolsonaro that "his troops were ready to act and were only awaiting his order," reports said.

Jair Bolsonaro Denies Involvement in Alleged Brazil Coup Plot

In response to the Thursday report claiming that he consulted with top military leaders regarding a coup to prevent Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva from assuming the presidency in January, Jair Bolsonaro has vehemently denied any such involvement, AP reports.

Three members of Bolsonaro's legal team issued a statement via social media channels, asserting that the far-right leader "never took any actions that violated the constitution's boundaries and guarantees."

Jair Bolsonaro's legal team also emphasized that he did not engage in any actions that contravened the law during his 2019-2022 administration. I

Former Brazil President Jair Bolsonaro has faced several investigations since leaving office, including one examining whether he played a role in his supporters' rioting in Brasília and their intrusion into government buildings on January 8.

This article is owned by Latin Post.

Written by: Bert Hoover

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