Former Brazil army chief says he tried to stop Bolsonaro's coup attempt

In a newly released memoir, Carlos de Almeida Baptista Júnior recounts a pivotal meeting held by outgoing President Jair Bolsonaro in the final weeks of his administration. Six weeks after the disputed 2022 election, Bolsonaro—still contesting the outcome—convened the commanders of Brazil’s navy, army and air force, where Defence Minister General Paulo Sérgio Nogueira de Oliveira distributed a confidential document from a plastic folder to each chief. Baptista Júnior’s account, detailed in the book, portrays the gathering as a last‑minute attempt by the far‑right incumbent to influence the armed forces amid mounting political tension.

The memoir arrives as Brazil’s 2026 presidential race intensifies, with Bolsonaro’s son entering the contest against incumbent President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva. Baptista Júnior’s narrative provides a rare insider view of Bolsonaro’s final days in office and underscores the lingering divisions within the country’s political and military establishments. Observers note that the book’s revelations may shape public perception ahead of the upcoming election, highlighting the enduring impact of the 2022 transition on Brazil’s democratic institutions.