Former Defense Minister of Brazil, Walter Braga Netto, was arrested on Saturday on serious charges. He is accused of being involved in a plan to stage a military coup, aiming to overturn the results of Brazil’s 2022 presidential election, which was narrowly won by President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva.
Braga Netto, who served as the chief of staff under former President Jair Bolsonaro, is accused of playing a major role in organizing and financing this plot to block Lula from taking office. Not only that, but Braga Netto was also Bolsonaro’s running mate in the failed 2022 reelection campaign against Lula.
The arrest came after a new investigation revealed more details about the alleged coup plot. Federal police claim that Braga Netto, along with other senior Bolsonaro allies, including retired military leaders, worked together to prevent Lula from becoming president. Investigators have even linked them to a possible plan to assassinate Lula soon after he was elected.
In the days leading up to the arrest, there were growing suspicions that Braga Netto had been trying to interfere with the police investigation. Authorities say he attempted to get inside information about statements made by Mauro Cid, a key aide to Bolsonaro who is now cooperating with the authorities.
This scandal first came to light last month, when police accused Braga Netto and others of conspiring to stop Lula from assuming office. The arrest was ordered by Brazil’s Supreme Court Justice, Alexandre de Moraes, who said new evidence showed that Braga Netto had a much larger role in the alleged coup attempt than originally thought.
The arrest has thrown more light on the chaos that followed the 2022 election. After losing to Lula, Bolsonaro claimed that the election was rigged and that faulty voting machines were to blame. His supporters took to the streets, blocking highways and even storming the presidential palace in Brasília on January 8, 2023, just a week after Lula’s inauguration. Bolsonaro was in the United States at the time, but later condemned the unrest and accepted the transition of power.
Bolsonaro has since been banned from holding public office in Brazil until 2030, although he denies any involvement in the coup plot. His lawyer claims that Bolsonaro had no knowledge of the plan to take down Lula’s government.
As the investigation continues, it’s clear that Brazil’s political turmoil is far from over, with more shocking revelations likely to come.
