Brazil's ex-defense minister arrested for meddling in coup probe
Brazil: Bolsonaro's 2022 Running Mate Arrested Over Alleged Coup Plot
Above: Former Brazilian Pres. Jair Bolsonaro and his 2022 vice presidential candidate Braga Netto attend a meeting with elected senators at Alvorada Palace in Brasilia, on Oct. 5, 2022 Image copyright: Evaristo Sa/Contributor/AFP via Getty Images
The Facts
Brazil's federal police arrested on Saturday Gen. Walter Braga Netto, a key ally of former Brazilian Pres. Jair Bolsonaro, who served as chief of staff and defense minister in his administration and ran for vice president in his failed 2022 reelection bid.
This comes as Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes, who is overseeing multiple probes into Bolsonaro and his allies, authorized the arrest following allegations that the retired general sought to meddle in the investigation into an alleged coup plot in 2022.
The Spin
Left narrative
Even if this coup failed, accountability for what happened in Brazil isn't only a matter of justice but is crucial for the future of the country's democracy. Investigations have revealed a coordinated, multi-pronged attempt by Bolsonaro and his accomplices to undermine the election's result. The political influence of Brazil's military can't be underestimated, and this is a concern that politicians must confront in the future.
Right narrative
Given that Brazilian authorities have formally called for Bolsonaro and several of his allies to be charged with a coup plot, it's hardly a surprise that Gen. Braga Netto has been arrested. As long warned, right-leaning figures across the nation have been politically persecuted since Bolsonaro left the presidential office in a blatant example of leftist lawfare.
Metaculus Prediction
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