‘It cost me many friendships’: former Brazil military chief reveals inside struggle to stop Bolsonaro’s coup
Former Brazilian air force commander Carlos de Almeida Baptista Júnior reveals in a new book that he refused a draft decree from Jair Bolsonaro intended to invalidate the 2022 election results. The account details the internal military resistance that prevented a potential coup following Bolsonaro's electoral defeat.
Why it matters
This testimony provides critical historical insight into the fragility of Brazilian democracy and the role of military leadership in upholding constitutional processes during a period of extreme political instability.
Brazil's former president Jair Bolsonaro stands outside his home in Brasília, where he is under house arrest, in September 2025. Brazil's former president Jair Bolsonaro stands outside his home in Brasília, where he is under house arrest, in September 2025. Brazil ‘It cost me many friendships’: former Brazil military chief reveals inside struggle to stop Bolsonaro’s coup Carlos de Almeida Baptista Júnior describes 2022 meeting in new book as ex-leader’s son vies with Lula for presidency
Tiago Rogero in Rio de Janeiro Sat 5 Sep 2026 06.00 EDT Last modified on Sat 5 Sep 2026 06.02 EDT Share Prefer the Guardian on Google T he far-right populist Jair Bolsonaro was in his final days as Brazil’s president when, six weeks after losing the election and still refusing to recognise the result, he summoned the heads of the armed forces to a meeting.
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