Former Brazilian defense minister and close ally of ex-president Jair Bolsonaro, General Walter Braga Netto, has been arrested by federal police in connection with an alleged conspiracy to seize power through a military coup. The arrest follows formal accusations against Braga Netto, who was also Bolsonaro’s vice-presidential candidate in the 2022 election, of playing a central role in a plot to block the inauguration of left-wing president Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva.
Braga Netto, 67, had strongly denied the charges, saying they were “fantastic and absurd.” However, Saturday morning saw federal police taking him into custody at his home in Rio de Janeiro’s Copacabana neighborhood. In a police statement, it said that the arrest was to prevent further illegal acts, and that investigators branded Braga Netto as the mastermind behind the attempted coup. He is accused of being the “head” and “mentor” of the plot, leading it under the influence of Bolsonaro who also denied involvement.
According to reports, the plot revolved around the supposed disruption of the results of the 2022 election, where Lula defeated Bolsonaro, with false claims of electoral fraud. The conspirators reportedly planned a military intervention, set for December 15, 2022, on which date Bolsonaro was going to sign a “coup decree” to give permission for military action. Braga Netto and other military figures, including Gen. Augusto Heleno, would allegedly make up a “crisis management” cabinet.
Police believe that the assassins also conspired to murder or kidnap political leaders, among them Lula and members of the Supreme Court. The investigators claim that Braga Netto was involved in financing the plans, taking money in the form of a box of wine to the assassins.
Many political analysts predict that as the probe continues, Bolsonaro might follow into police custody, with strong suspicion mounting that he too might be part of the coup plot.
