Bolsonaro suggests Defense Minister is his VP nominee

Defense Minister Braga Netto. Photo: Marcos Correa/PR

President Jair Bolsonaro suggested that Defense Minister Walter Braga Netto will be his running mate in the October elections during an interview with Joven Pan News. While not giving a name, Mr. Bolsonaro said his VP nominee was born in Belo Horizonte and went to “military school.” Check and check.

As The Brazilian Report showed in January, Mr. Braga Netto was the top choice of President Bolsonaro, who believes having a military man by his side would be a hedge against betrayal. Dilma Rousseff suffered treachery in 2016, when then-VP Michel Temer conspired with congressional leaders to remove her from office and step into her presidential position.

Mr. Braga Netto is one of the president’s closest advisors. He served as chief of staff from February 2020 to March 2021, when he was cast to muffle a military crisis caused by a rift between the president and Armed Forces commanders. He also aided Mr. Bolsonaro in his attacks on Brazil’s voting system.

Guilherme Mendes

Guilherme Mendes is based in Brasília and covers politics, the Justice system, and environmental issues. He has written for O Estado de S.Paulo, Jota, Agência Infra, and Congresso em Foco.