A hectic Monday in Brazilian politics is about to get even more turbulent. The day began with the resignation of Foreign Minister Ernesto Araújo, forced out of the government amid growing pressure from congressional leaders. The news came as no surprise, considering Mr. Araújo’s desperate outbursts at senators over the weekend. Just hours later, however, a true bombshell dropped, as Defense Minister Fernando Azevedo e Silva handed in his resignation. And senior government sources tell The Brazilian Report that Army Commander Edson Pujol is the next major figure heading for the door.
- The move has left Brasília politicians shocked and concerned, given the authoritarian threats made by President Bolsonaro in recent weeks.
- Gen. Pujol is seen within the barracks as a commander who protects the Army from government interference. Behind the scenes, he has expressed worries that the president could “tarnish the public image of the Armed Forces.”
Between the lines. In his resignation letter, Mr. Azevedo e Silva said he has “always preserved the Armed Forces as institutions of the state.” Coming from a seasoned Army general, that comes as a scathing indictment of President Jair Bolsonaro and his government.
- The fall of the Defense Minister — along with...