Former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro is accused of attempting to overturn the results of the presidential elections in which his rival Lula da Silva won (Getty)
The Brazilian police summoned the country's former right-wing president, Jair Bolsonaro, and interrogated him on suspicion of his involvement in a coup attempt to remain in power, while sources reported that about 20 of his supporters were also subjected to interrogation in several cities in the country, on suspicion of their involvement in the attempt as well.
The French news agency reported that the former president remained silent during his interrogation by the police yesterday, Thursday, and quoted his lawyer, Paulo Cunha, as saying in front of the Federal Police headquarters in Brasilia, where the interrogation took place, that “the only reason that prompted Bolsonaro to remain silent is that he is facing a semi-secret investigation.”
He explained that not obtaining all the documents in the file prevented the former president’s defense from reviewing the evidence on the basis of which he was summoned for the interrogation session, which lasted only half an hour.
In a statement they issued in this regard, Bolsonaro's lawyers confirmed that the former president "will not hesitate to answer police questions when he sees the documents, knowing that he has always responded to police summons."
Local Brazilian newspapers reported that about 20 figures from the former president's camp suspected of involvement in the coup attempt were also interrogated by investigators in several cities in the country simultaneously with Bolsonaro's interrogation.
The G1 news website said that 7 people who were questioned also remained silent, including 3 senior officers who were within Bolsonaro's government.
The former president confirms his innocence of the charges against him, and says that he fell victim to “merciless persecution” from the government of leftist President Luis Lula da Silva, who defeated him in the presidential elections in October 2022.
While some experts believe that the possibility of Bolsonaro going to prison is not ruled out, his personal lawyer confirms that the former president “does not fear anything because he did not commit any crime.”
The Brazilian police launched a campaign called “The Hour of Truth” on February 8, targeting former aides close to the former president, and carried out dozens of raids and arrests.
The Brazilian authorities prevented Bolsonaro from leaving the country on suspicion of his participation in a broad plan, within the framework of which senior ministers and military personnel were mobilized to ensure that he remained in power after his defeat in the 2022 presidential elections.
Brazil witnessed riots one week after the inauguration of current President Lula da Silva, as thousands of Bolsonaro supporters stormed the headquarters of the presidential palace, parliament, and the Supreme Court on January 8, 2023, and caused severe damage to them.
Investigators say that preparations were underway to carry out a “military coup with the aim of preventing the legitimately elected president from assuming the reins of power.” Police also say that Bolsonaro personally drafted a decree in which he would have called for new elections, but eventually withdrew from issuing it.
Source: French