Bolsonaro Accused By Lula Of Planning Jan. 8 'Coup'

Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, the newly elected president of Brazil, claimed that Jair Bolsonaro, the former president, had actively taken part in the planning for his supporters to overrun government buildings on Jan. 8.

These allegations were made while a senator revealed that Bolsonaro attended an anti-election plot meeting.

In an interview on Thursday, Feb. 2, Lula declared, "today I am well aware and will say it loud and clear: that citizen [former president Bolsonaro] prepared the coup."

A week after Lula's inauguration, thousands of Bolsonaro supporters burst into the Congress, Supreme Court, and the presidential palace in Brasilia because they couldn't accept the results of the election, Al Jazeera reported.

Lula's inauguration was not attended by the previous president as he wasn't in the nation's capital at the time. Since late December, Bolsonaro has been residing in the US state of Florida.

When asked about Bolsonaro's involvement in the assault, Lula responded, "I am positive that he actively participated in that and is still attempting to participate."

Lula's allegations against Bolsonaro came the same day that Senator Marcos do Val accused the former president of attending a meeting on how to prevent the handover of power.

Do Val claimed that the plan was to force Superior Electoral Court President Alexandre de Moraes to say something damaging while secretly recording him.

Bolsonaro supporters frequently point the finger at De Moraes, claiming that he meddled in the election to favor Lula.

Former Bolsonaro ally do Val initially told Veja magazine that Bolsonaro gave him the plan, but later revised his story to say that the former president was "quiet" throughout the meeting.

"' I annul the election, Lula isn't sworn in, I stay in the presidency and arrest Alexandre de Moraes because of his comments,'" do Val quoted Bolsonaro as saying.

On Thursday, Feb. 2, the accusations made by do Val dominated local news and the senator was called to give statements to Federal Police.

There was no response from Bolsonaro on the matter on any of his social media channels.

An extensive investigation into the assault on Jan. 8 is looking into the former president, who has asked for a six-month visa to stay in the country.