Good morning! Back from the Corpus Christi holiday, we explain how the Army has bent to the president’s will. A program for young unemployed workers. And a new trial to find strategies to fight the coronavirus.
The Brazilian Army surrenders to Bolsonaro
The head of the Brazilian Army issued a statement on Thursday evening saying it would not punish former Health Minister and active general Eduardo Pazuello for accompanying President Jair Bolsonaro on a political rally on May 23, in Rio de Janeiro. Brazilian law forbids active Army officials from manifesting political opinions without authorization from the top brass.
Context. The case was a flagrant violation of Army rules and an act of insubordination, and Gen. Pazuello escaped scot-free with the risible argument that the rally in question was “not political.”
- In actual fact, Mr. Pazuello only dodged punishment due to Mr. Bolsonaro’s pressure on the Brazilian Army Commander, General Paulo Sérgio Nogueira.
Why it matters. Mr. Bolsonaro managed to get the Army to ignore its core principles — hierarchy and discipline — to please the president.
- Since taking office as president, Mr. Bolsonaro has tried to subjugate the Army to his will — even firing all three commanders of...