Army commander asked for trust credit and promised to resolve Cid case, says Múcio – 01/24/2023 – Politics

The Minister of Defense, José Múcio Monteiro, said this Tuesday (24) that the new commander of the Army, Tomás Paiva, asked President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva (PT) for a “credit of trust” to solve the crisis between the Força and the Planalto Palace.

In this context, according to the minister, Tomás asked to take the lead in discussions with the Army about the situation of Lieutenant Colonel Mauro Cid, assistant to former President Jair Bolsonaro (PL) investigated by the Federal Police for suspicious transactions in favor of agent’s family.

“I’m hoping that General Tomás will tell the president that he’s going to do what the president wants him to do. We need that now, for this climate of trust to be born, for the other to know what is going to be done, it’s very important that this initiative belongs to the Army”, the minister told GloboNews.

According to Múcio, the new army commander told Lula, in a meeting on Saturday (21), that he would like to turn the page on the attacks on the seats of power. “The general said he needed a credit of confidence for us to put things in place. This credit of confidence is being given, with hopes that everything will return to normal.”

Tomás’ first challenge will be to conduct, this Tuesday, the first meeting of the Army High Command under the new leadership. One of the main issues to be treated, as he showed the Sheetis Cid’s future in the Force.

“General Tomás asked him to take the lead to decide what he was going to do. But that he would take the necessary measures and agree with me and the president”, said Múcio.

The Minister of Defense highlighted that Lula did not conclusively ask for Cid’s removal from command of the 1st Command Action Battalion, in Goiânia. In the interview, Múcio stated that the president insistently asked him what would be done with the lieutenant colonel in the face of the investigations.

Múcio said that he tried to discuss the matter with the former commander of the Arruda Army, but that there was “a lot of difficulty”. “There is a very strong esprit de corps, there is also a very strong political environment”, he added.

The objective, according to the minister, is for the Army to analyze Cid’s situation and make a decision about his stay.

“We are not looking to condemn anyone for speculation, not to commit injustice, but I am absolutely sure that if there is any proven fact, it should be postponed. [nomeação do Cid]postponed, something will happen.”

The acting president, Geraldo Alckmin, and the Minister of Defense, José Múcio Monteiro, met this Tuesday morning (24) for the first discussions around the creation of an investment committee in strategic defense projects.

According to Múcio, the meeting served to “define the strategies” of the committee and adjust the speech to present the proposal to Lula in the coming days.

Minister’s assistants told the Sheet that the objective is to focus on public-private partnerships to leverage investments in the Defense Industrial Base, as a way to turn a first positive agenda for the sector after Lula’s victory.

The creation of the group stemmed from the understanding that there are not enough resources in the 2023 Budget for President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva (PT) to fulfill the promise made to the commanders of the Armed Forces to increase investment in projects considered strategic for the Army, Navy and Aeronautics.

The objective is to encourage the military to remain in their final areas, instead of assuming key positions in the Executive, as occurred in the Jair Bolsonaro (PL) government. Lula has stated that strategic investment in defense is the way to depoliticize the Forces.

Last Friday (20), the commanders presented Lula with the projects considered priorities for each of the Forces. Are they:

• Navy: Prosub (Submarine Program); Nuclear Program; and the Tamandaré Class Frigate Program.

• Army: Armored Forces Strategic Program; Sisfron (Integrated Border Monitoring System); Antiaircraft Defense; Cyber ​​Defense; Aviation; and Astros 2020.

• Aeronautics: KC-390 Multimission Transport Plane; F-39 Gripen Multipurpose Fighter; and C-408 Light Transport Aircraft.

The Minister of Defense, José Múcio Monteiro, has held internal meetings with the new Secretary of Defense Products, Brigadier Rui Mesquita, and representatives of the Defense Industrial Base to update strategic projects.

The idea is to estimate what amount should be raised this year to move forward with the programs.