Lula accuses Bolsonaro of preparing January 8 attempted 'coup'
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The Brazilian President says his right-wing predecessor has actively taken part in his supporters' riots.
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Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva (Bloomberg)
Left-wing Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva on Thursday said his right-wing predecessor Jair Bolsonaro actively participated in planning for his supporters to riot and storm government buildings on January 8.
"Today I am well aware and will say it loud and clear: that citizen [former president Bolsonaro] prepared the coup," Lula said in an interview with broadcaster RedeTV!
Refusing to accept Bolsonaro's election loss, thousands of his backers broke into the presidential palace, Congress, and Supreme Court buildings in Brasilia a week after Lula's inauguration.
"I am certain that Bolsonaro actively participated in that and is still trying to participate," Lula added when questioned about Bolsonaro's role in the riots.
Lula's remarks against Bolsonaro -- who has been in the US state of Florida since late December -- came the same day that Brazilian Senator Marcos do Val accused the former President of attending a meeting on how to prevent the handover of power.
According to Do Val, the plan was to force Superior Electoral Court President Alexandre de Moraes to say something incriminating while secretly recording him.
De Moraes is a favorite target of Bolsonaro supporters, who claim that he interfered in the election to help Lula.
Do Val, a former Bolsonaro ally, initially told Veja magazine that it was Bolsonaro who presented the plan to him, but later said that the former President remained "silent" during the meeting.
His accusations dominated local news on Thursday, and Do Val was called in to give statements to the Federal Police.
Bolsonaro, who has requested a six-month visa to remain in the United States, remains under investigation as part of a sprawling probe of the January 8 riots.
