Former head of the FAB rebuts Ciro Nogueira and says that the senator “attacks the military institution”

The former Air Force commander, Brigadier Carlos Almeida Baptista Júnior, responded this Monday (18) to criticism made by senator Ciro Nogueira (PP-PI). In a statement to the Federal Police, Baptista Júnior and the former head of the Army, General Marco Antônio Freire Gomes, stated that former president Jair Bolsonaro (PL) presented proposals for an alleged attempted coup d’état in meetings at the Palácios do Alvorada and of the Plateau. The former commanders said they refused any hypothesis of institutional rupture.

Without mentioning names, Nogueira questioned the reports made to the PF and the actions of former commanders. “Does this mean that now a Chief, two Chiefs (?) of Military Forces witness a Coup d’Etat and did nothing? The most important active General in the country when he heard a serious threat to Democracy is the same one who now hits the former Commander in Chief who lost the elections in the same way he would salute the same Commander in Chief, if he had been re-elected?”, wrote the senator in the X.

Ciro Nogueira was Minister of the Civil House during the Bolsonaro government. Also in social network, the former head of the Brazilian Air Force (FAB) shared the parliamentarian’s publication, refuting the statements. “By trying to support the 2026 elections, Senator Ciro Nogueira attacks the military institution and demonstrates ignorance of Brazilian law, which establishes that military salute is due to authorities, not to people,” said Baptista Júnior.

In the text, Nogueira also pointed out that “it is absolutely proven that there is an undisputed criminal”, which would be “either the criminal who committed malfeasance by not reporting the ‘coup’ to the country or the slanderer who reports it today, since it did not occur”.

“The most important General in the country, so jealous of Democracy, in December 2022, would leave any inappropriate meeting, denounce any collusion and have the absolute support of Brazilian society”, stated the senator. “To be embarrassed now because he can’t do the salutes he would have done is an unspeakable shame. All military personnel have a duty to honor their uniform. Some should be even more committed to honoring their pajamas,” he added.

Baptista Júnior highlighted that “there is no shame in complying with the law, regardless of the current governments, which have long deserved and fed each other”. “Honor is in the soul and examples, not in the suit, uniform or pajamas. If this is the example of a party president, there is little hope left in politics”, said the former FAB commander.

Last Friday (15), Federal Supreme Court (STF) minister Alexandre de Moraes removed the confidentiality of 27 statements given as part of Operation Tempus Veritatis, which investigates an alleged coup attempt to keep Bolsonaro in power.