Power struggle in Brazil: Bolsonaro allegedly involved in conspiracy

Status: 03.02.2023 2:05 p.m

Brazil’s ex-president Bolsonaro has still not acknowledged his defeat. He is said to have conspired to prevent his successor Lula from taking power. A senator reported on conspiratorial meetings with Bolsonaro.

The allegations are serious: Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva is convinced that his far-right predecessor Jair Bolsonaro actively planned the storming of the government district in Brasilia in January. In conversation with the Brazilian broadcaster RedeTV! Lula said: “Today I know it and I’ll say it loud and clear: This citizen (ex-President Bolsonaro) prepared the coup.”

Referring to his predecessor’s role in the violent attacks on Congress, the Supreme Court and the presidential palace, Lula said he was “sure” that Bolsonaro “was actively involved and is still trying to participate.” An attempted coup should have taken place at the inauguration on January 1, but a high police presence and too many people on the streets of Brazil would have led to the project being called off.

Bolsonaro allegedly in a conspiratorial round

The Brazilian magazine “Veja” published audio recordings of Senator Marcos do Val on Thursday, in which he spoke of a plot to keep Bolsonaro in office despite the electoral defeat. In the footage, do Val tells the magazine the plan to overturn the presidential election was discussed at a meeting with Bolsonaro and MP Daniel Silveira on December 9 – three weeks before Lula took office. Do Val used to be considered a confidant of Bolsonaro

The plan was to get the president of the electoral court, Alexandre de Moraes, to admit that he had exceeded his powers. Bolsonaro supporters accused de Moraes of manipulating the election in favor of Lula. They did not present any evidence of this.

Bolsonaro supporters violently occupied several government buildings in the capital Brasilia in early January.

Image: AP

Senator withdraws statement – and changes the version

Do Val originally told the magazine that Bolsonaro himself had proposed the conspiratorial plan. Bolsonaro has said I’ll annul the election, Lula won’t be sworn in, I’ll stay in the presidency and arrest Alexandre de Moraes for his statements, do Val reported.

The senator later changed his version and denied a magazine report of the alleged plot. The audio recordings were then released. Do Val said after the report was released that Silveira had the idea for the plot. Bolsonaro did not say a word during the December 9 meeting.

Do Val told reporters he briefed de Moraes on the content of the meeting. He himself refused to take part in the alleged plot. De Moraes ordered do Val to testify under oath within five days. Bolsonaro’s attorney Frederick Wassef declined to comment on the case.

Attackers in the target of justice

De Moraes is the most powerful lawyer in Brazil and an enemy for Bolsonaro supporters. Currently, the Supreme Court Justice is tasked with preparing hundreds of indictments against Bolsonaro supporters who stormed and vandalized several government buildings in the capital Brasilia after Lula’s inauguration on January 8.

Bolsonaro, who is also being investigated for the attempted coup, was not in the country at the time of the attack. He had flown to Florida before Lula’s inauguration and is currently trying to extend his visa for the United States.

Even before his election defeat, the far-right politician and ex-military man had systematically tried to sow doubts about the outcome of the election. He never officially acknowledged his loss to Lula.

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