Good morning! Today: another day, another threat of a coup from the government. Small companies struggle to access credit. And the embattled income tax reform bill could go to a vote today.
Bolsonaro advisor defends ‘possibility’ of military coup
Speaking to radio station Jovem Pan, retired Army General Augusto Heleno — President Jair Bolsonaro’s top security officer — said the Armed Forces have a “coup” card up their sleeves.
What he is saying. “I don’t believe in [military] intervention at the moment. But such intervention could happen in a grave scenario. I hope [the Armed Forces don’t] need to [pull that move].”
- Gen. Heleno also said Mr. Bolsonaro could invoke Article 142 of the Brazilian Constitution to call for a military intervention.
- Explained. Article 142 establishes the Armed Forces as “regular and permanent national institutions” which operate under the president’s authority to “ensure law and order.” It doesn’t, at any point, grant them unilateral intervention powers – but it has been used by the far-right as justification for a “legal” way to stage a coup.
There’s more. Gen. Heleno’s remarks come days after President Jair Bolsonaro sent his WhatsApp broadcast list a message asking people to show support for a...