Lula says Bolsonaro’s push for amnesty means he’s admitting guilt in Brazil coup plot

SAO PAULO (AP) - Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva said Thursday that his predecessor, Jair Bolsonaro, is acknowledging his guilt in a case in which he’s accused of plotting a coup to stay in power after his 2022 electoral defeat by focusing on a campaign for amnesty.

Bolsonaro and allied lawmakers are pushing for a bill that would pardon those convicted over an insurrection on Jan. 8, 2023 - when supporters of the far-right leader stormed government buildings in Brasilia, Brazil’s capital, emulating the U.S. Capitol riots. They are also trying to amend a law that prevents convicted criminals from running for office.

"He's asking for amnesty, which means he's basically saying, 'Guys, I'm guilty. I tried to come up with a plan to kill Lula, I tried to come up with a plan to kill (Vice President Geraldo) Alckmin, I tried to come up with a plan to kill (Justice) Alexandre de Moraes,'” Lula told Radio Tupi during a live interview.

Prosecutor-General Paulo Gonet on Tuesday charged Bolsonaro with devising a multipronged plot to remain in power despite his loss to Lula, including an alleged plan to poison Lula and shoot dead Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes, a foe of the former president.

Bolsonaro has denied any wrongdoing and dismissed accusations against him as vague, saying the charges were the result of an authoritarian regime manufacturing internal enemies. He was already banned by Brazil's top electoral court to run in elections until 2030 over abuse of power while in office and casting unfounded doubts on the country's electronic voting system.

The Brazilian president added that Bolsonaro and his allies who were also charged should first defend themselves in court instead of asking for forgiveness in advance.

"I always emphasize the presumption of innocence - everyone in this country has the right to prove their innocence and he has that right. So prove it," Lula said.

Lula said that such allegations were “extremely serious.”

"I am sure that if it is proven, there is only one way out: prison," he added.