Today: what does President Bolsonaro gain by sacking all military leaders? Brazil’s job figures are up, but future prospects are bleak. Startups manage to evade pandemic woes.
A military crisis on top of a health one
After jettisoning his Defense Minister, President Jair Bolsonaro pulled an unprecedented move, firing all three commanders of Brazil’s Armed Forces. The president was targeting Army Commander Edson Pujol, as we revealed on Monday, but the heads of the Navy and Air Force then decided to jump ship, too. On Tuesday morning, the trio met with new Defense Minister Walter Braga Netto, who reportedly tried to talk them down. No resolution was forthcoming and all three were fired.
Why it matters. Mr. Braga Netto told the media the decision aimed to “realign” the Armed Forces with the government. In other words, President Bolsonaro wants more support from the military.
- For months, the president has flirted with the idea of breaking with the democratic order, telling supporters that “chaos is coming,” and that he will soon be forced to resort to “harsh measures.”
- “It is becoming clear that Mr. Bolsonaro wants to use the military for his own benefit. Not for the benefit of his...