Federal Police Report Confirms Bolsonaro's Active Role in 2022 Coup Plot

Brazil's former President Jair Bolsonaro is accused of being involved in a coup attempt to stay in power after losing the 2022 election. A Federal Police report, unveiled on Tuesday, claims Bolsonaro was aware of and participated in the plot. The Supreme Court received the 884-page report last Thursday, which implicates Bolsonaro and 36 others in the alleged coup attempt.

The report states that Bolsonaro was fully aware and actively involved in planning the coup. It alleges he aimed to overthrow the democratic rule of law, although the coup did not occur due to factors beyond his control. The document highlights his direct involvement with a criminal organization intending to disrupt democracy.

Bolsonaro's Alleged Coup Plan

In December 2022, Bolsonaro allegedly convened a meeting with military commanders. During this meeting, he presented a draft decree to investigate supposed fraud in the October 2022 election. This decree would have also suspended the electoral court's powers. The navy commander was willing to comply, but army and air force leaders opposed any action preventing Lula's inauguration.

Witnesses told investigators that these refusals halted the plan. Bolsonaro never signed the decree to initiate the final stage of the alleged plot. Despite these claims, Bolsonaro has consistently denied any wrongdoing or knowledge of a coup plan against his successor, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva.

Bolsonaro's Denials and Legal Challenges

Bolsonaro has dismissed allegations of plotting a coup as absurd. He stated, "No one is going to do a coup with a reserve general and half a dozen other officers." He added that he never discussed a coup and questioned how such actions would be perceived globally.

The Supreme Court has forwarded the report to Prosecutor-General Paulo Gonet. Gonet will decide whether to formally charge Bolsonaro or dismiss the investigation. Ahead of the 2022 election, Bolsonaro repeatedly claimed that Brazil's electronic voting system could be manipulated, despite lacking evidence.

Ongoing Investigations and Legal Battles

The top electoral court ruled that Bolsonaro abused his power by casting doubt on the voting system, rendering him ineligible for office until 2030. However, he plans to run for office in 2026. Since leaving office, Bolsonaro has faced multiple investigations, which he attributes to political persecution.

Federal Police have accused him of smuggling diamond jewellery into Brazil without proper declaration and instructing subordinates to falsify COVID-19 vaccination records. Authorities are also probing whether he incited a January 8, 2022 riot where his supporters stormed government buildings in Brasilia.

Bolsonaro left for the United States days before Lula's inauguration on January 1, 2023, staying there for three months. The police report suggests he sought to avoid potential arrest related to the coup plot while awaiting an uprising that occurred shortly after.