Military Reservists in Brasília Renew Protest Against Bolsonaro

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – For the second day, reserve military and Armed Forces pensioners have protested in Brasília against President Jair Bolsonaro. Senior ranks and soldiers are complaining about the reduction in the amounts for additional pay (earned by officers for being forced to be available for active duty full time) and qualification (received according to the courses taken by each), in addition to other benefits, as defined in the pension reform.

Yesterday morning, demonstrators from several states simulated a military training session outside the Planalto Palace, to the sound of statements that demanded the President fulfill the agreement made to compensate soldiers, senior ranks and pensioners for their losses. “The overall feeling is that President Bolsonaro has betrayed us,” says Wagner Coelho, reserve Navy petty officer, one of the protest’s organizers.

On Tuesday, some 300 protesters made a stand outside the Ministry of Defense building. They had also planned to protest around the Alvorada Palace yesterday, the President’s official residence. A new protest will take place in Brasília on Thursday.

“We expect Bolsonaro to take a position. After all, it was these military officers who for a long time served as the President’s precint captains and are now sorry they did so,” criticizes Coelho.

In December, in a Senate meeting attended by two Ministers and Armed Forces Commanders, a promise was made to repair salary losses. According to the agreement, the proposal for the military members with the lowest pay would be submitted in January, but this was not the case. According to Coelho, generals were disproportionately raised when compared to soldiers.

“We will demand that this agreement be fulfilled until the end,” says the petty officer.

Source: UOL

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