A cache of leaked audio recordings from late 2022 has exposed conversations among senior members of Brazil’s military discussing efforts to persuade former President Jair Bolsonaro to stage a coup and retain power despite his electoral defeat.
The recordings, comprising 53 audios obtained by the Federal Police and accessed by The Associated Press on Monday, reveal a stark willingness among some military officials to prevent leftist Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva from assuming office.
Calls for Action
In one particularly striking audio, Colonel Roberto Raimundo Criscuoli, a former deputy commander of the army’s special forces, urged retired Brigadier General Mario Fernandes, then second in command at the presidency’s general secretary, to act decisively.
“It will be either a civil war now or civil war later,” Criscuoli asserted. “We have a justification now for civil war; people are on the streets, we have massive support. Let’s do this now. Speak to 01.”
The term “01” is widely understood to reference the president.
These recordings offer a rare glimpse into the mindset of Brazil’s military elite during the fraught transition period following Lula’s election victory. While neither Bolsonaro nor his ministers are directly heard in the audios, the discussions add to mounting evidence of internal pressure to subvert democratic processes.
Supreme Court Intervention
Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes, overseeing an extensive investigation into anti-democratic activities, cited portions of these recordings in his ruling last week. His order resulted in the arrest of five individuals accused of plotting to assassinate President-elect Lula in 2022 and attempting to overthrow him in the January 8, 2023, riots.
The riots saw Bolsonaro supporters storm government buildings in Brasília, causing widespread destruction. The audios also suggest frustration within military ranks about the perceived urgency to act before Lula’s electoral certification on December 12, 2022.
In one audio, Lieutenant Colonel Mauro Cid, Bolsonaro’s aide-de-camp, is heard telling Fernandes: “The thing is his personality sometimes. He waits, waits, waits… But sometimes time is short. We can’t wait much longer.”
Cid, already under house arrest for unrelated charges, has cooperated with authorities under a plea bargain, contributing crucial evidence in several cases against Bolsonaro and his associates.
Widespread Denials
The Brazilian army has yet to comment on the Federal Police investigation or the leaked recordings. Bolsonaro, meanwhile, has repeatedly denied any intent to stage a coup, though he often cast doubt on the election’s legitimacy without providing evidence.
Despite failing to concede, Bolsonaro left Brazil for the United States shortly before Lula’s inauguration on January 1, 2023. He remained abroad for months and has since been declared ineligible to run for president until 2030 due to abuse of power during his presidency.
Military Divisions
The recordings highlight divisions within the military. Thousands of Bolsonaro’s followers camped outside army facilities for weeks, pressuring leaders to support the then-president. However, reports suggest insufficient backing among senior commanders for a coup.
General Fernandes, one of the figures arrested following de Moraes’ order, repeatedly claimed the election was rigged. In one recording, he stated: “Any solution… will not happen without breaking eggs. We have to go for it. We have popular support.”
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Despite such rhetoric, the high command ultimately refrained from intervening. Bolsonaro’s supporters only dispersed after the January 8 riot, following orders from Brazil’s newly installed army commander.
Implications for Bolsonaro
While the audios are not directly linked to Brazil’s formal police accusation against Bolsonaro and 36 others for attempting to stage a coup, they underscore the precariousness of the country’s democracy during the transition.
The Federal Police’s findings further entangle Bolsonaro, who is already under investigation for various alleged crimes, including abuse of power and corruption. His actions in the lead-up to Lula’s inauguration and beyond are likely to remain under intense scrutiny.
A Fractured Democracy
The leaked audios mark yet another chapter in Brazil’s turbulent political history, revealing the lengths to which some were willing to go to challenge democratic norms. As the investigations progress, they not only highlight individual culpability but also raise questions about the role of the military in safeguarding—or undermining—the democratic process.
For Brazil, the recordings serve as a sobering reminder of how fragile democratic institutions can be when faced with internal dissent and political unrest.
