On Tuesday (19/11), the Federal Police arrested four high-ranking military and a federal agent as part of an investigation into a suspected plot to assassinate President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, Vice President Geraldo Alckmin, and Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes. The alleged plan was devised following former President Jair Bolsonaro’s defeat in the 2022 elections. The operation is part of an inquiry into a possible coup attempt after the election results.
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The Arrests
Those arrested include retired General Mário Fernandes and military officers Hélio Ferreira Lima, Rafael Martins de Oliveira, and Rodrigo Bezerra de Azevedo, all members of the Special Forces. Federal agent Wladimir Matos Soares was also detained. The arrests were carried out in the states of Rio de Janeiro, Goiás, Amazonas, and the Federal District, with oversight from the Brazilian Army.
Plan Printed at the Presidential Palace
The investigation revealed that General Mário Fernandes printed a document titled “Green and Yellow Dagger” at the Presidential Palace. This three-page operational plan detailed the assassination of Moraes, Lula, and Alckmin, as well as the arrest and execution of Moraes.The document was reportedly printed in the office of the General Secretariat and scheduled to be executed on 15 December 2022, the day of Lula’s inauguration certification.
Signal Group
The suspects allegedly used a chat group on the Signal platform, named “Copa 2022” (World Cup 2022), to coordinate the plot. Signal, known for its self-destructing messages, was used to obscure communications. Members adopted country-based codenames such as Germany, Austria, Japan, and Ghana to conceal their identities. Targets were also given nicknames: Lula was referred to as “Jeca,” Alckmin as “Joca,” and Moraes as “Professor.”
Military Guidance for Protesters
The Federal Police also uncovered evidence that the suspects were providing guidance to protesters camping outside the Army Headquarters in Brasília after Bolsonaro’s election loss. Messages exchanged between General Mário Fernandes and Lieutenant Colonel Mauro Cid, a former executive secretary of the General Secretariat, corroborate this involvement.
Meeting at Braga Netto’s Residence
A meeting at the home of General Walter Braga Netto, former Defense Minister under Bolsonaro, was identified as the starting point for the plan. According to the investigation, the suspects presented and approved the operational strategy during this gathering in Brasília. Braga Netto was not targeted in Tuesday’s operation but remains under investigation in the Supreme Court inquiry. His defense team has declined to comment.
End of Amnesty for Coup Participants
The revelation of the assassination plot has intensified opposition to a proposed amnesty for those involved in the 8 January 2023, coup attempt. Supreme Court Justice Gilmar Mendes declared it “unthinkable” to grant amnesty at this time. The Federal Police indicated that the operation would not delay the conclusion of the broader inquiry, which also investigates former President Jair Bolsonaro.
Attack at the Three Powers Square
The operation followed a bombing incident at Brasília’s Three Powers Square just days earlier. On Wednesday (13), Francisco Wanderley Luiz, 59, detonated explosives in two locations before taking his own life in front of the Supreme Court building. Luiz, a locksmith and former city council candidate for the Liberal Party (PL) in Rio do Sul (SC), was identified as the perpetrator. The explosions, which occurred around 19:30, caused damage to his vehicle and areas near the Judiciary headquarters. Acting Governor of the Federal District, Celina Leão stated that Luiz had attempted to enter the Supreme Court before detonating the explosives.
Analysis:
The Federal Police operation that uncovered an alleged plot to assassinate President Lula, Vice President Alckmin, and Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes highlights the growing political radicalization in Brazil. The involvement of military personnel and a Federal Police agent demonstrates that efforts to destabilize the rule of law extend beyond disorganized civilian actions, reaching strategic sectors of national security. The printing of the coup plan within the Presidential Palace and the use of encrypted technologies like Signal point to a structured and deliberate strategy aimed at challenging the legitimacy of democratic institutions.
This plot is directly linked to the 8 January 2023, anti-democratic attacks, intensifying debates over the potential amnesty for those involved. The mounting pressure for decisive action is reflected in Justice Gilmar Mendes’ rejection of any form of amnesty for coup supporters. The revelations also underscore the urgent need for stricter oversight and control of security forces to prevent their misuse of extremist political agendas, ensuring their adherence to constitutional duties.
President Lula’s administration faces the dual challenge of strengthening public trust in democratic institutions amid increasing polarization. Beyond providing firm institutional responses, advancing political dialogue to isolate extremists and promote governmental stability is crucial. This episode demands clear and strategic leadership, not only to neutralize immediate threats but also to fortify the foundations of Brazilian democracy against the risks posed by radical movements still present in the political landscape.
Sources: A Folha de SP [1], [2], [3], [4], [5]; G1; O Globo [1], [2], [3].
