Former top military officials of Brazil's Army and Air Force revealed to police investigators that former President Jair Bolsonaro convened them twice after his electoral loss in 2022 to discuss the possibility of a coup d'état, according to Reuters.

The disclosures, released by the Supreme Court on Friday, position Bolsonaro as the central figure in a scheme to declare martial law and prevent leftist President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva from assuming power after his election victory.

Contrary to mounting evidence, Jair Bolsonaro denied any involvement in coup attempts following his election defeat, which he refused to concede.

Instead, he departed for the United States to avoid transferring power to Lula, sparking unrest as his supporters attempted to incite a coup by storming government buildings.

Bolsonaro's legal representatives did not provide immediate comments regarding these allegations.

In their testimonies, former Army commander Marco Antonio Freire Gomes and Air Force commander Carlos de Almeida Baptista stated that they explicitly informed Bolsonaro of their refusal to support any coup attempts, thereby thwarting the then-president's plans to garner military support.

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Former Brazil Military Leaders Reject Jair Bolsonaro's Coup Plans

The testimonies of the former military commanders emerged as part of ongoing investigations into Bolsonaro's conduct before Brazil's Supreme Court, including his suspected involvement in a 2023 attack on key government buildings following Lula's inauguration.

According to a federal police report included in Friday's court filings, Gomes recounted multiple unplanned meetings at the presidential palace convened by Bolsonaro after the 2022 election's second round, Aljazeera reports.

In one such gathering, Bolsonaro proposed forming a commission to investigate the electoral process's validity and legality.

He also suggested employing measures such as declaring a state of siege.

However, Gomes reiterated to Bolsonaro that reversing the election outcome via military intervention was unfeasible given the circumstances.

Similarly, former Air Force commander Carlos de Almeida Baptista affirmed his rejection of Bolsonaro's efforts.

He credited Gomes' firm stance as instrumental in dissuading Bolsonaro from pursuing electoral reversals.

Denials and Legal Ramifications

Responding to these revelations, Bolsonaro's lawyer, Fabio Wajngarten, dismissed the accusations, asserting ignorance of any coup plots or threats of arrest from Brazil military leaders against Bolsonaro, per AP News.

Wajngarten disparaged the former commanders, labeling them as sycophants with no significance.

Bolsonaro's persistent questioning of Brazil's electronic voting system in the years leading up to the election, coupled with intensified efforts to sow doubt before Lula's victory, underscores his contentious relationship with electoral processes.

Gleisi Hoffmann, chairwoman of Lula's Workers' Party, hailed the Brazil military leaders' disclosures as vindication of Lula's electoral win, emphasizing the pivotal role democracy played in Brazil's stability.

Legal experts weigh in, highlighting the potential gravity of Jair Bolsonaro's actions.

Despite not issuing a decree for deploying tanks, Bolsonaro faces significant legal jeopardy due to mounting evidence implicating him in coup-related activities.

Cezar Ziliotto, a constitutional law attorney, contends that the testimonies of the former military commanders represent crucial evidence likely to influence forthcoming charges against Jair Bolsonaro before the Supreme Court.

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This article is owned by Latin Post.

Written by: Bert Hoover

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