4 generals from the High Command supported intervention; Bolsonaro ruled out

At least four generals from the Army High Command would have been in favor of activating article 142 of the Constitution for what they considered to be the reestablishment of institutional order in Brazil after the 2022 elections. Two of them discussed this situation with former president Jair Bolsonaro (PL ), between November and December last year, according to retired military personnel linked to the case. The then Army commander, Marco Antônio Freire Gomes, would have been against any type of intervention and Bolsonaro himself would have ruled out the possibility after the consultation. Thus, of the 17 generals in the High Command, at least four would be in favor.

The existence of generals in favor of the use of article 142 of the Constitution goes against the statement by the Minister of Defense, José Múcio Monteiro, that “at no time” were the Armed Forces interested in intervention.

According to a source with knowledge of the meetings between Bolsonaro and military personnel at the top of the Armed Forces, two generals from the High Command would have participated in two meetings involving the then Army commander, Marco Antônio Freire Gomes, and former president Bolsonaro at the Palácio da Alvorada. These two generals would have been in favor of the use of article 142.

The action would be motivated by abuses by the Judiciary, an alleged lack of transparency and disproportionality in the electoral process – particularly due to the granting of less time for electoral propaganda on the radio to Bolsonaro.

They mistakenly interpreted that the article could be invoked to reestablish institutional order in the country through intervention by the Armed Forces. But at no point would there have been any intention of carrying out a coup d’état not based on laws, according to the source.

The debate on whether or not to intervene to reestablish institutional order in the country was later taken to a meeting of the Army High Command, where there was supposedly a discussion of the situation that analyzed various aspects, such as the security of the ballot boxes and the conduct of the electoral process.

In addition to these high-ranking soldiers, a considerable number of officers lower in the hierarchical chain and enlisted men shared the opinion. Some of these soldiers took into account information, until now not proven by documents, that the Army’s own intelligence reports on the situation had been softened by colleagues who were against the activation of article 142 of the Constitution.

High-ranking active military sources told the reporter that there was a lot of discontent. Therefore, it would be plausible to attribute the perception that the reports had been softened to personal perceptions of those who were in favor of the use of article 142.

The source heard by People’s Gazette stated that even wives of generals who are part of the Army High Command would have attended the camps that were set up in front of military units.

However, the final position was made by the Army commander, Freire Gomes, who decided not to interfere with the institution in the political process.

Defense Minister accused former Navy commander of not being on the side of the law

On Thursday (21), the Minister of Defense, José Múcio Monteiro, accused the former Navy commander Almir Garnier of not being 100% on the side of the law, stating that he would have been in favor of an intervention based on article 142 of the Constitution.

The statement was made after UOL It’s from Globe published that, in his plea bargain, Bolsonaro’s former aide-de-camp, Mauro Cid, had said that the former president received a draft decree to call new elections and make arrests after the presidential election that elected Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva (PT) and submitted it to military analysis.

According to the reports, Cid would have said that Garnier would have expressed favor with the content of the draft. The information, however, has not yet been confirmed by official sources or by Cid’s lawyer.

The report found that this information caused outrage in circles of Jair Bolsonaro supporters. This is because the leak was intended to give the idea that only the former president and Garnier had considered the possibility of triggering article 142. According to supporters, on the contrary, many people considered the possibility, but it was not taken forward.

There was a mistaken interpretation among them that the activation of article 142 could be done within the law, without disrespecting the Constitution.

Army would have to make a plan for intervention

For an intervention based on article 142 of the Constitution, the Army would have to create a document called the Military Operational Planning Guideline (Depom). In theory, if it had been drawn up, such a plan could provide details on the use of military units on the streets for the alleged reestablishment of institutional order.

An alleged exchange of messages between Colonel Jean Lawand Júnior and Cid, who is in the hands of the police, would have suggested that a plan of this nature had been made by the Land Operations Command. The supposed document never came to light.

A high-ranking active member of the Army told the reporter that there may have been a confusion of information, as the document could refer to the planning of a Guarantee of Voting and Counting operation, which is the military support given to the authorities elections on voting days.

Members of the Army High Command interviewed by the report do not rule out that there were disagreements about the possibility of activating article 142 of the Constitution. They highlight, however, that these conjuncture discussions are part of the decision-making process and that, once the commander made his final decision not to intervene, the dissonant voices stopped. Therefore, today there would be no sign of political division within the highest leadership of the Army.

Armed Forces demonstrate

In a note, the Navy informed that it did not have access to the content of Cid’s statement and that any individual opinions do not represent the official position of the Force. Check out the full note:

“The Brazilian Navy (MB) clarifies that it did not have access to the content of Lieutenant-Colonel Mauro Cid’s plea bargain. Furthermore, this Naval Force does not comment on ongoing investigative processes within the scope of the Judiciary.

Aware of its constitutional mission and its commitment to Brazilian society, MB, a national, permanent and regular institution, reaffirms that its conduct is based on faithful observance of legislation, ethical values ​​and transparency.

The MB also reiterates that any individual acts and opinions do not represent the official position of the Force and that it remains at the disposal of the justice system to fully contribute to the investigations”.

To the UOL, the Army reported that it has collaborated with the investigations, that it does not comment on ongoing investigative processes and that “it bases its actions on respect for legality, fairness and transparency in the investigation of all facts involving the military”. Read the Army note:

“[O Exército] has been following the steps taken as determined by the Court and collaborating with all investigations. And “its actions are guided by respect for legality, fairness and transparency in the investigation of all facts involving the military.”

When responding to the question of UOL regarding Cid’s denunciation, the Army responded that “the Force does not comment on ongoing investigative processes, as this is the procedure that has guided the respectful relationship between the Brazilian Army and other institutions of the Republic”.