Brazilian Generals say “President is Wrong”; Armed Forces Would Not Support Coup

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – Statements made by President Jair Bolsonaro during a demonstration held in Brasília yesterday were interpreted by politicians of various leanings as a call for a coup d’état.

“We have the people at our side, we have the Armed Forces at the people’s side,” said Bolsonaro. “We have reached our limit, there is no more talking,” he said, at another time.

However, reservist generals have said that there is no chance of the Army, Navy, and Air Force being involved in an anti-democratic operation. The Ministry of Defense said it will not comment on the President’s statements.

“He (the president) enjoys popular support, as demonstrated today. But the Armed Forces are aware of their constitutional mission,” assured General Maynard Santa Rosa, who until November was in charge of the federal government’s Secretariat of Strategic Affairs. “The moment merits balance and reflection, not haste.”

General Paulo Chagas, who was a candidate for governor of the Federal District in the last elections, sees no chance of a coup. “The president is wrong, he is interpreting it the way he wants. The Armed Forces will never embark on any adventure. The people are divided, Brazil wants each one to play their part responsibly”.

Also, federal deputy General Peternelli (PSL – SP) says he is sure that the Armed Forces will not operate outside the law. “They always work within constitutional norms,” he said. “Sometimes they also call me asking if there will be a coup against the President. Neither one nor the other”.

The Army officials also criticize Federal Supreme Court (STF) rulings that, according to them, meddle in areas that are exclusive to the executive branch. “The precedent set by the STF allows a judge anywhere to decide ‘I want this’… ‘I want that,” says Chagas. They are referring to the suspension of the Federal Police director-general’s appointment and the suspension of the deportation of Venezuelan diplomats.

The generals believe the federal government’s efforts should be directed toward fighting the coronavirus rather than political clashes. “It seems he (Bolsonaro) likes this kind of fuss. I think he has some soul from another world, who lives in Virginia (reference to the astrologer Olavo de Carvalho), who sends him messages and he believes in them. This is bad. It hurts him and it hurts Brazil,” Chagas says.

Two of the officials were displeased to learn that the President turned up on the ramp to the Planalto with the Israeli and United States flags at the same level as the Brazilian flag.

“I think a sovereign state like Brazil has no reason to link the demonstration to other countries’ flags,” Peternelli said. “The demonstration should be essentially Brazilian”. Chagas laments: “I don’t know where the President is going with this, honestly”.

Source: UOL

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