Leaders of the Brazilian Armed Forces met to discuss the change of cabinet promoted by Jair Bolsonaro

The profound change of cabinet announced Monday by the government of Jair Bolsonaro caused a strong shock and a surprise in Brazil. According to what was reported by the local press, key army chiefs met to discuss the president’s decision, which ended with the relief of six ministers.

According to newspaper articles O’globo and Folha from Sao Paulo, the commanders of the army (Edson Pujol), the navy (Ilques Barbosa Junior) and the air force (Antonio Carlos Muaretti Bermúdez) met to analyze the possibility of submitting a joint resignation in response to the departure of Defense Minister Fernando Azevedo.

If confirmed, this joint resignation of the heads of the armed forces It would be an unprecedented event in the history of the South American country and would mark a definitive break between the military and Bolsonaro.

sheet also indicated that Pujol, who took office on January 11, 2019 with Bolsonaro’s approval, this evening will have a virtual meeting with the main commanders of the army to deal with the crisis.

Reserve General Fernando Azevedo e Silva, unexpectedly announced his resignation from his post as Minister of Defensehours after Foreign Minister Ernesto Araújo communicated to President Jair Bolsonaro his decision to leave his post.

Azevedo e Silva had been in the cabinet since Bolsonaro came to power in January 2019, and was one of eight ministers (out of 22) with a military rank.

The departure of the Minister of Defense came as a surprise, as there were no rumors of discontent.

The president, a former army captain, has placed military personnel and retirees at all levels of his government, raising fears that the reputation of members of the military will suffer.

“During this time, I have preserved the armed forces as state institutions,” Azevedo e Silva wrote in a ministry statement. “I am leaving with the certainty of a mission accomplished.”

Added to that of the general Eduardo Pazuello at the head of the Ministry of Health two weeks ago, He is the third victim of a key member of the far-right government in the most acute phase of the coronavirus pandemic.

Bolsonaro carried out a ministerial reform on Monday, with the change of the holders of six portfolios, including those of External relations, defense and justiceannounced the Ministry of Communications.

The changes started in the morning, with the resignation of the Chancellor Ernesto Araújo, under fire from criticism for the failure of Brazil’s policy to contain the coronavirus pandemic, and spread into the afternoon with unforeseen changes.

Bolsonaro, just over four months after exceeding half of his four-year term, has appointed new officials to head the ministries of Civil House (a post with powers of head of government) and the attorney general of the ‘Union (AGU). , which is responsible for defending the legal interests of the Federation.

MP Flávia Arruda, the third woman to join the 22-member cabinet, has been appointed secretary of the presidency (a ministerial post, advising the president directly).

Two weeks ago, there was already a change in the Ministry of Health, at the head of which the cardiologist Marcelo Queiroga was appointed in place of General Eduardo Pazuello. Queiroga is the fourth Minister of Health since the start of the pandemic.

In total, the ministers of Ernesto Araújo (Foreign Relations), Fernando Azevedo e Silva (Defense), André Mendonca (Justice),Luiz Eduardo Ramos (Government Secretary), Walter Souza Braga Netto(Chief of staff) and Jose levi (Attorney General’s Office, or AGU).

Three of the ministers were transferred to other portfolios: Braga Netto will be in charge of Defense; Mendonca will be attorney general; and Ramos will go to the headquarters of Gabienete. While Carlos Alberto Franco França will take the reins of external relations, Flávia Arruda will be in charge of the government secretariat and Anderson Torres will take justice.

Thus, Ernesto Araújo, Fernando Azevedo e Silva and José Levi will leave the government.

The best placed to fill the post left by Araújo are the ambassadors of the United States, Nestor Foster, and of France, Luis Fernando Serra. In recent days, the names of Communication Secretary Admiral Flávio Rocha and even former Brazilian President Fernando Collor (1990-1992) have also been mixed up.

With information from AFP and Reuters

KEEP READING: