Bolsonaro can’t live with his vice president, and he can’t live without him

When it quickly became clear that Brazil’s far-right President Jair Bolsonaro would not make a moderate shift after his election in 2018, members of the local press turned to his vice president, retired Army general Hamilton Mourão, as a “voice of reason” within the administration. So often the Brazilian public discourse suffers from short-term memory loss, however, with Mr. Mourão supporting the idea of a military coup in Brazil just one year before becoming President Bolsonaro’s running mate.

Now, however, with around a year and a half left in Mr. Bolsonaro’s presidential term, the “adult in the room” isn’t even in the room anymore, as Hamilton Mourão has become something of a persona non grata within the administration.

Mr. Mourão was originally brought in to sit at Jair Bolsonaro’s right hand in exchange for unwavering military support for the future government. And while he is increasingly excluded from the administration’s business, the general has held up his side of the bargain.

Naturally suspicious and often displaying traits of someone suffering from a persecution complex, Jair Bolsonaro quickly became unsettled by his vice president’s presence, even at the beginning of his term. Among his main qualms was Mr. Mourão’s apparently friendly relationship with the...