Last week Brazilʼs top court made public a huge police report that points to Jair Bolsonaroʼs direct role in trying to keep power after losing the election. The report (which is 884-pages long) shows evidence from different sources: phone taps financial data and witness statements
The investigation found that Bolsonaro started making plans as early as 2019 – way before the election happened. In late-2022 he called a key meeting with military leaders to discuss his ideas about staying in power; the air force and army chiefs said no but the navy commander Almir Garnier Santos was ready to help
The police found something really serious: there were talks about hurting Lula (who won the election) and his running mate. The evidence shows that Walter Braga Netto Bolsonaros defense minister had a meeting at his house where they talked about these violent plans
Here are the main things police found against Bolsonaro:
- Secret meetings with military people
- Plans made at the presidents house
- Talks about using force to stay in power
- Trying to get army support
- Working with other officials to make it happen
Now 37 people most of them military officers face legal trouble. The case is in the hands of Brazils top prosecutor who needs to decide if heʼll charge Bolsonaro and others. This might hurt his plans to run again in 2026; but he keeps saying he did nothing wrong and never talked about any coup