Last week, the Brazilian Army chose not to punish former Health Minister and active general Eduardo Pazuello for attending a rally in support of President Jair Bolsonaro at the end of May, during which he made a brief speech, hailing Mr. Bolsonaro as a “good man.” Military officers are strictly forbidden from politicking, and Mr. Pazuello’s behavior certainly warranted punishment. That he got off scot-free is yet another blow to Brazilian democracy, which could have serious consequences for the 2022 presidential election.
Article 45 of Brazil’s military statute forbids active-duty officers from taking part in “any type of public...