Brazil: army chiefs resign amid political crisis
Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro, June 11, 2019. EVARISTO SA AFP / Archivos
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4 min
57 years ago to the day, the military seized power in Brazil.
An event commemorated in a special atmosphere this Tuesday, March 30, since the three army commanders resigned after the dismissal of the Minister of Defense by President Bolsonaro, who is suspected of wanting to politicize the army.
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With our correspondent in Sao Paulo
,
Martin Bernard
In his resignation letter,
the Minister of Defense, General Azevedo
, stressed the importance of "
preserving the army as a state institution
".
A thinly veiled critique of the head of state's attempts to politicize the army.
Jair Bolsonaro
had already called for the head of the army commander, General Pujol, in favor of preventive measures against the pandemic.
Eventually, he fired the leaders of the three armies - land, air and sea - even before they resigned.
Bolsonaro must give pledges to these center-right parties to prevent him from letting go
Gaspard Estrada, Executive Director of OPAL
Véronique Gaymard
The Brazilian president also wishes to mobilize “
his
” army to
fight against the confinement,
imposed in certain regions.
Daily death record
In Congress, Bolsonarist deputy Vitor Hugo suggested declaring a state of “
national mobilization
” during the pandemic, in order to confer exceptional powers on President Bolsonaro.
In this very tense atmosphere, Vice-President Mourao, who is also a soldier, however affirmed that the risk of institutional rupture was "
zero
".
Tensions that come as this March 30, a new record of one-day deaths in Brazil was recorded.
3,780 people died from
Covid-19
this day, according to data reported Tuesday by the Ministry of Health.
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To read also: Brazil: Jair Bolsonaro reshuffles his government and announces six changes of ministers
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