Former FAB Commander reveals military warnings of coup risks

Former Brazilian Air Force (FAB) Commander Carlos de Almeida Baptista Júnior has revealed details regarding military concerns over a potential coup attempt during the Jair Bolsonaro administration. In his upcoming book, ‘Eu Disse Não: Uma Trincheira Antigolpista’, Baptista Júnior describes a private meeting held on August 24, 2022, involving the heads of the Army, Navy, and Air Force, alongside Supreme Federal Court Minister Dias Toffoli and then-Prosecutor General Augusto Aras.

The purpose of the meeting was to urge these institutions to act to reduce political tensions. Baptista Júnior noted that military leadership felt the risk of a constitutional rupture was not being treated with sufficient gravity by other state sectors. He characterized the period as an ‘institutional crossfire.’

Additionally, Baptista Júnior confirmed to the Federal Police that former President Bolsonaro presented military commanders with a draft decree to impose a state of exception. The commander stated that between October and December 2022, military leaders were frequently summoned to the Ministry of Defense to discuss election matters, diverting them from their primary duties. His testimony was noted as crucial in the Supreme Federal Court proceedings that led to Bolsonaro's conviction.