BRASILIA: Former heads of Brazil’s Army and Air Force have provided testimony to federal police, confirming discussions with ex-President Jair Bolsonaro regarding a draft decree aimed at preventing the handover of power after the 2022 election. Bolsonaro’s political career faces uncertainty, with legal challenges and criminal probes looming.
Marco Antonio Freire Gomes, former Army chief, testified to police about discussions with Bolsonaro regarding the draft decree, while former Air Force chief Carlos Baptista Junior also disclosed similar discussions. Bolsonaro’s spokesman, Fabio Wajngarten, denies concrete evidence against the president, but investigations are ongoing.
Bolsonaro, deemed politically ineligible until 2030 for electoral misinformation, faces multiple criminal probes nearing conclusion. Federal police intend to consolidate these probes, considering charges such as attempting to overthrow the democratic state, racketeering, and document falsification, potentially leading to a maximum 55-year jail sentence.
Sources within Brazil’s prosecutor general’s office suggest Bolsonaro’s indictment is inevitable, pending the formal decision on charges by federal police. However, official comments from both authorities are awaited, highlighting the intensifying legal scrutiny surrounding Bolsonaro’s post-election actions.
