Brazil's former air force chief Carlos de Almeida Baptista Junior has revealed in a new book how he worked to stop an alleged coup plan by Jair Bolsonaro after the far-right leader lost the 2022 election.
Key facts
- Carlos de Almeida Baptista Junior was Brazil's air force commander during Bolsonaro's final days in office.
- Bolsonaro summoned armed forces chiefs to a meeting six weeks after losing the 2022 election, according to the account.
- Defence minister Gen Paulo Sergio Nogueira de Oliveira handed commanders copies of a document at the meeting.
- Baptista Junior says resisting the plan cost him many friendships.
- The revelations come as Bolsonaro's son competes with Lula for the presidency.
Carlos de Almeida Baptista Junior, the former head of Brazil’s air force, has come forward with an inside account of his efforts to stop an alleged coup attempt by former president Jair Bolsonaro, according to the Guardian. His recollections are contained in a newly published book.
Baptista Junior describes how Bolsonaro, in his final days as president and six weeks after losing the 2022 election, summoned the heads of the armed forces to a meeting. At the time, the far-right populist was still refusing to recognise the election result.
During that meeting, according to the account, the defence minister, Gen Paulo Sergio Nogueira de Oliveira, took a document from a plastic folder and handed copies to the commanders of the navy, army and air force.
The former air force chief reflects on the personal toll of resisting the plan, saying it cost him many friendships.
The Guardian reports that the revelations arrive at a politically charged moment, as Bolsonaro’s son is now vying with Lula for the presidency, keeping the events of 2022 firmly in the national spotlight.
Why it matters
The account offers a rare firsthand look at how senior military figures responded when a sitting president refused to accept an election defeat. With Bolsonaro's political legacy still contested and his son seeking the presidency, the disclosures could shape Brazil's ongoing debate over the health of its democracy.
Frequently asked questions
Who is Carlos de Almeida Baptista Junior?
He is the former head of Brazil's air force who served during Jair Bolsonaro's final days as president and has now detailed his efforts to stop an alleged coup plan in a new book.
What happened at the 2022 meeting?
According to the account, Bolsonaro summoned the heads of the armed forces six weeks after losing the election, and defence minister Gen Paulo Sergio Nogueira de Oliveira handed copies of a document to the navy, army and air force commanders.
Why is this relevant now?
The Guardian reports the revelations come as Bolsonaro's son is competing with President Lula for the presidency, keeping the 2022 events in public focus.