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Bolsonaro and 36 Others Charged in Coup Plot Against Lula; Report Sent to PGR

Nov 26, 2024, 07:16 PM

On November 26, 2024, Brazil's Federal Police filed charges against former President Jair Bolsonaro and 36 others, including high-ranking military officers and former ministers, for orchestrating a coup d’état against President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva following the 2022 elections. The investigation culminated in a comprehensive 884-page report sent by Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes to the Procuradoria-Geral da República (PGR). Moraes lifted the confidentiality of the report, making its contents public, while maintaining the secrecy of the plea bargain testimony of Bolsonaro's former aide, Mauro Cid. The report details that Bolsonaro allegedly had full knowledge and active participation in the attempted coup, including plans to assassinate Lula. It reveals that Bolsonaro, with support from a legal team, drafted a decree to prevent Lula's inauguration. The plan, referred to as 'Operation 142', involved six distinct groups and included efforts by military officials to pressure commanders of the Army and Air Force to support the coup. Messages from former Defense Minister Braga Netto show he urged military leaders to 'save our democratic state of law'. The refusal of the commanders to participate was crucial in thwarting the coup. The report also mentions that the military had materials to anonymize their actions, and a plan named 'Lula não sobe a rampa' was found.