Impact in Brazil! Former Army Commander Confirms He Warned Bolsonaro: "The Armed Forces Will NOT Support a Coup"

In a revelation that could be decisive for the judicial future of former President Jair Bolsonaro, former Brazilian Army commander General Marco Antônio Freire Gomes confirmed this Tuesday, May 20, 2025, before the Supreme Federal Court (STF) that he personally warned the then president that the Armed Forces would not support any initiative that violated the Federal Constitution during the turbulent post-election period of 2022. Freire Gomes admitted to having received a plan from the Bolsonaro government aimed at preventing Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva from taking office.

The testimony of General (retired) Marco Antônio Freire Gomes before the Supreme Court has added a crucial piece to the complex puzzle of the alleged coup plot that sought to subvert the 2022 election results in Brazil. His statements, made within the framework of the investigation led by Minister Alexandre de Moraes, reinforce the accusations against Jair Bolsonaro and his inner circle.

The Direct Warning to Bolsonaro

Freire Gomes recounted that, during several political meetings with Bolsonaro and ministers from his administration (2019-2022), he made clear the Army's institutional position. In one of those meetings, after being presented with a plan to prevent Lula da Silva from assuming the presidency, the general warned Bolsonaro that the Army would not participate in such an undertaking and that he should consider all legal aspects and national and international support before taking any drastic measures.

"What we warned the president was that he had to pay attention to all these aspects. And that in the Army we would not participate in anything that exceeded our constitutional jurisdiction," Freire Gomes stated, according to his testimony. However, the former commander denied having threatened to arrest Bolsonaro if he attempted a coup, as some reports had previously suggested.

The Coup Plan and the Military Resistance

The general specified that the proposal to prevent Lula's inauguration was presented in December 2022, during a meeting between then-Defense Minister Paulo Sérgio Oliveira and the heads of the Armed Forces. According to Freire Gomes, the content of this presentation was similar to the "coup report" later found at the home of former Justice Minister Anderson Torres. The hypotheses discussed included the application of the Guarantee of Law and Order (GLO), a State of Siege, and a State of Defense.

The stance of Freire Gomes, and presumably that of other high-ranking officials who remained loyal to the Constitution, was instrumental in preventing the attempted institutional overthrow from succeeding. The ground force commander's refusal to join a coup attempt represents a significant dam. This testimony demonstrates the depth of the conspiracy, which was not limited to high-sounding statements but translated into concrete plans discussed at the highest levels of power.

“I politely warned him that whatever measures he took, he had to consider all aspects (…) If he didn’t consider all the legal aspects, in addition to not being able to count on our support, he could be subject to legal action.” — General Marco Antônio Freire Gomes on his conversation with Bolsonaro.

This episode and its continuing revelations could spur a deeper debate about the role of the Armed Forces in Brazilian democracy and the need to strengthen mechanisms of subordination to civilian power. The STF's ability to conduct this investigation and potentially prosecute a former president and senior military officers for attempting to subvert democracy constitutes a litmus test for the strength and independence of the Brazilian judicial system.

The STF investigation continues, and more than 80 people, including prosecution and defense witnesses, are expected to testify in the coming weeks.

What do you think will be the impact of this testimony on the case against Bolsonaro? Let us know on our social media channels.

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