Summary
An unsealed Brazilian Federal Police report alleges that former President Jair Bolsonaro actively planned and participated in a 2022 coup plot to remain in power after losing to Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva.
The report details Bolsonaro’s presentation of a draft decree to military commanders to suspend electoral court powers and investigate alleged voting fraud, though opposition from army and air force leaders stopped the plan.
Bolsonaro denies involvement, but faces accusations of staging a coup, eliminating the rule of law, and forming a criminal organization, with potential prison sentences of 11+ years if convicted.
This is what happens when you’re in a country with laws. In 3rd country banana democracy, you don’t go to jail for a coup, you run for president and win!
2nd world oligarchy more like. Trump’s organized crime to politics pipeline is straight out of Russia and the corrupt parts of Ukrainian history. I think “The Road to Unfreedom” by Timothy Snyder comments on all the connections and common themes between oligarchy in Ukraine and Russia and in the US, but I’m still reading through it.
Brazil has been under a military dictatorship and they remember (until 50 years ago), same for many EU countries. The USian in contrast has no concept of what is at stake until it will be too late.
I generally just picture the masses of WWII vets alive looking at Americans through the eras, disappearing little by little, and as soon as the last one disappears America just collectively goes, “Why were we against fascism again? Can’t remember. Ohwell, can’t imagine it was that important.”
Conservatism didn’t spend the last 50 years crippling education for fun. It was because a stupid worker is easier to con.
American exceptionalism is really a disease. They think they’re somehow different.
Pointing this out actually gives me a little hope, albeit not a whole lot. We’re absolutely heading that way, but knowing others have gotten out still means a lot. Cheers to a ton of pain and suffering soon, guys.