Politics · Brazil · 2 hrs ago
Flávio Bolsonaro praised a dictatorship-era officer in a 2017 book
Senator Flávio Bolsonaro defended Brazil’s 1964 military coup in his 2017 book, published while he was a state lawmaker in Rio de Janeiro.
He wrote that agents involved in political repression should be treated as national heroes.
The book described Colonel Carlos Alberto Brilhante Ustra, who commanded the DOI-Codi repression unit, as a correct and honest man who served his country.
Ustra has been linked to repression and torture during Brazil’s military dictatorship.
Flávio also accused the National Truth Commission of trying to rewrite history; the commission investigated human rights violations during the dictatorship.
His book questioned accounts of the death of former lawmaker Rubens Paiva, who was killed at DOI-Codi, and blamed left-wing groups.
Flávio had made similar statements in speeches from 2004 to 2011, and the issue is back in public debate during Brazil’s 2026 election campaign.
A 2017 book by Flávio Bolsonaro praised the military dictatorship and its agents of repression.
In the book, he described Colonel Carlos Alberto Brilhante Ustra as a “correct, upright man” who had fulfilled his duty to defend the country.
Flávio argued that agents of repression should be treated as national heroes and criticized the National Truth Commission.
The book questioned the account of the killing of former congressman Rubens Paiva, who died at the DOI-Codi.
The book was brought back to public attention in October 2026 by journalist Bernardo Mello Franco of O Globo.
- Who
- Flávio Bolsonaro, then a Rio de Janeiro state legislator and now a senator.
- What
- His 2017 book defended the 1964 military coup and praised agents of repression, including Colonel Carlos Alberto Brilhante Ustra.
- When
- The book was published in 2017; its contents were brought back to public attention on October 19, 2026.
- Where
- The book discussed Brazil’s military dictatorship; Ustra commanded the DOI-Codi.
- Why
- The book set out Flávio Bolsonaro’s views on Brazil’s political history. The articles do not state a specific reason for its publication.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Flávio Bolsonaro criticized what he called the mass criticism of the military regime and cited its economic, social and political advances.
He said he felt pride and gratitude toward the military.
He challenged the description of 1964 as a coup.
He called the anniversary of the coup a special date and said people should fight what he called the lie that there had been a military coup.
He published the book “Mito ou verdade” while serving his fourth term in the Rio de Janeiro state legislature.
News outlets reported on the book after journalist Bernardo Mello Franco brought it back to public attention.
- Book
- Mito ou verdade,” published in 2017
- Author
- Flávio Bolsonaro
- Praised officer
- Colonel Carlos Alberto Brilhante Ustra
- Ustra’s post
- Commander of the DOI-Codi during the military dictatorship
- National Truth Commission
- Flávio accused it of trying to rewrite history from the perspective of terrorists
3 sources
What people are saying
Instead of being marginalized, they should be treated as national heroes
A correct, upright man who fulfilled his role of defending the country
To me, it is a reason for great pride and gratitude to the military
The left, now in power, insists on saying there was a coup