Brazil: Lula da Silva begins to cleanse the government of the military in a climate of mistrust

The president of Brazil, Luiz Inacio Lula da Silvahas begun to cleanse the government of the military, at a time of distrust with some sectors of the Armed forces after the coup attempt by radical Bolsonaristas on January 8.

In his first twenty days in office, the progressive leader has dispensed with the services of some 140 soldiers who worked in bodies linked to the security and administration of the Presidency.

The departure of these soldiers had been taking place since the inauguration of Lula, but it has accelerated since the assault on the headquarters of the Presidency, Congress and the Supreme Court by thousands of followers of the ex-right-wing president Jair Bolsonaro.

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OBJECTIVE: DEMILITARIZE THE GOVERNMENT

On Tuesday, Lula’s government released 40 soldiers who worked in the administration of the Palacio de la Alvorada, the official residence of the Presidency.

Between Wednesday and Thursday, it was the turn of about twenty who held various positions in the Institutional Security Cabinet (GSI), responsible for protecting the president’s life.

This paradigm shift in relation to the weight of the armed forces. in the Government, which with Bolsonaro, a retired Army captain, acquired a space of power not seen since the days of the dictatorship (1964-1985), falls within Lula’s plans to demilitarize the public administration.

According to official data, the number of military, active or reserve, holding civilian positions jumped from 2,765 in 2018, a year before Bolsonaro came to power, to 6,157 in 2020, of which close to half are positions. commissioners” that the new government can replace in the short term.

Depoliticizing the barracks is the other great challenge, which has acquired a sense of urgency since the violent attack on the institutions on January 8 that sought to overthrow Lula and return Bolsonaro to power.

The Armed Forces, as an institution, remained faithful to the Constitution and to Lula, in his capacity as supreme commander, although the Government suspects the participation of a few soldiers in the coup acts, whom it intends to punish “regardless of the patent” .

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ENVIRONMENT OF DISTRUST

Lula himself has sown doubts about the performance of some sectors of the armed forces. against the assault on Brasília.

Last week, at a breakfast with journalists, he assured that there were “many soldiers and police officers” who were “colluding” with the attempted coup and that he is “convinced” that someone from inside the Planalto presidential palace “facilitated” the entry of the radicals.

On Wednesday, in an interview with GloboNews, he once again hinted at that mistrust by criticizing intelligence agencies. “of the Army, the Police and the Navy” for not notifying him that radical Bolsonarists were organizing for the assault.

And he was exhaustive when warning that “whoever wants to do politics, take off their uniform, resign from office and set up a political party.”

“But while he is in the Armed Forces, he cannot do politics” because it is a State institution, he said.

In an attempt to “turn the page”, Lula met for two hours on Friday with the commanders of the Army, Navy and Air Force to discuss investments and modernization plans, in the company of Defense Minister José Múcio and some businessmen.

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According to Múcio, the assault on Brasília “was not discussed,” but upon leaving he told reporters that, from his point of view, “there was no direct involvement of the Armed Forces.”

“If any element, individually, participated, they will respond as a citizen”he pointed out to later guarantee that the military will not allow a new episode like the one on January 8 and that they agree that measures be taken against all those involved.

In the midst of the demilitarization of positions in the Presidency, the Lula government also fired this week the 27 regional superintendents of the Federal Highway Police and 18 of the Federal Police.

These types of changes in police commands are normal when a new administration enters, but this time they are being carried out more quickly and deeply.

Meanwhile, operations are taking place throughout the country to identify the organizers and financiers of the attempted coup.

On the list of those investigated by the Supreme Court is Bolsonaro, who is currently in the United States without a return ticket, for inciting his supporters to attack democratic institutions.

Source: Elcomercio

jack

I am Jack Morton and I work in 24 News Recorder. I mostly cover world news and I have also authored 24 news recorder. I find this work highly interesting and it allows me to keep up with current events happening around the world.