Brazil saw an attempted coup, even if a failed one
The Brazilian ReportJan 18, 2023
Brazilian Pres. Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, speaking in an interview with broadcaster RedeTV! on Thursday, accused predecessor Jair Bolsonaro of actively participating in planning the storming of government offices on Jan. 8.
The news came on the same day that Sen. Marcos do Val claimed he was invited to a meeting by a former Bolsonaro ally to discuss overturning the far-right leader's election loss.
Even if the coup failed, accountability for what happened in Brazil is not only a matter of justice but is also crucial for the future of the country's democracy. The current investigation is likely to reveal a coordinated, multi-pronged attempt by Bolsonaro and his accomplices to undermine the election's result. Despite the many similarities to the US Capitol riots, the political influence of Brazil's military cannot be underestimated, and this is a concern that politicians must confront in the future.
The Jan. 8 storming of government buildings was relatively non-violent, despite the damage to the building interiors, with no grave injuries or deaths, and Bolsonaro never encouraged his supporters to gather that day, let alone attempt to stage a military coup. Mainstream media is promoting a conspiracy that doesn't exist while ignoring that Brazilians are fully capable of protesting and distrusting institutions without being guided by US politicians.
There's a 10% chance that former Brazilian Pres. Jair Bolsonaro will be extradited back to Brazil before leaving the US, according to the Metaculus prediction community.