“It had to be extended to other services that may have influence”, says an expert on the PEC of reserve military personnel in elections

Manaus (AM) — Senators closed an agreement with the federal government to present a Proposal for a Constitutional Amendment (PEC), which will restrict the participation of active-duty military personnel in the Armed Forces from running for elective office. The political scientist, Helso Ribeiro, comments to the In timedetails about the PEC and states that the restriction should cover other services that also exert influence.

“What is speculated is the non-interference of people who exercise essential functions for the maintenance of the State, so that they do not use that force, that interference that they have to raise votes. I think it had to be extended to other services as well that could have influences. An example is a doctor who works in the public service, when he is a candidate, the fact that he treats patients can be an extra benefit in a campaign”,

explains.

The text proposal was in debate with the restrictions on the participation of military personnel in political positions, by the Planalto Palace and the Ministry of Defense, together with the military commands of the Army, Navy and Air Force.

According to the Ministry of Defense, currently the military can apply as long as he is licensed. If he is elected, he takes office. If he is not elected, he returns to active duty.

“The proposed constitutional amendment presented by the senators is restricted to the issue of electoral candidacies. The military man who, while in the military career, wants to join the political-electoral process, will have to join the reserve”, said Minister Alexandre Padilha, from the Institutional Relations Secretariat, after a meeting at the Ministry of Defense.

military ministers

The text initially devised by the government also provided for a veto to the possibility of an active-duty military taking over the position of minister. However, according to the Minister of Defense, José Múcio Monteiro, and the leader of the government in the Senate, Jaques Wagner (PT-BA) who presented the PEC, there was an understanding that, to be a minister, there must be an invitation, while, to apply, the decision is made by the military itself.

The text needs to have the prior support of at least 27 senators, as it is a proposal for a constitutional amendment. Wagner went to the Ministry of Defense accompanied by Senator Otto Alencar (PSD-BA), leader of the largest party group in the Senate with 15 senators, and also by Senator Renan Calheiros (MDB-AL).

Jaques Wagner explained why the text will allow the military to be ministers, claiming that in the evolution of the dialogue they changed the decision.

“Dialogue always does that, it makes us evolve in our position. Originally, [o texto pensado pelo governo] had the inclusion of [veto de militares para serem nomeados] ministers. In the evolution of the dialogue, it was realized that it could characterize a discriminatory tone, which is not our objective, and therefore we removed it”,

said the senator.

Constitution

“In the Constitution, in article 142, item V says that the military, while in active duty, cannot be affiliated with a political party”,

says the political scientist.

The discussion about the PEC comes from the fact that several military members politically aligned with former President Jair Bolsonaro ran for office last year, such as then General Eduardo Pazuello.

Senator Jaques Wagner declared after a meeting on Wednesday (30th) with the Minister of Defense that the PEC will “preserve” the military values ​​of hierarchy and discipline.

“When someone makes a candidacy, evidently as a candidate he will present his points of view, he will position himself politically, he will speak well or badly about this or that, including the organization of the Forces within a government”,

said the government leader.

Armed forces

Minister José Múcio declared that there were months of conversations and meetings with the commanders of the forces, who peacefully discussed the elaboration of the texts.

“It was an absolutely peaceful thing, discussed with the commanders for exhaustive months. They understood why. We had raised this issue of the military taking office, but in the name of dialogue – and this is the function of politics – the Senate proposal will take it off, it will say that someone can be invited by the president”,

declared.

“What we wanted and what the Forces agree with in its entirety is that anyone who wants to be in the military cannot run for political office and then return to command. This is peaceful in our idea”,

completed the Defense Minister.

Military Police without restrictions

The leader of the government in the Senate, Jacques Wagner (PT-BA), in statements, informed that it should not include members of the military police, since, for him, the theme should be the object of bills.

“Here we are dealing with forces that owe their hierarchy to the Minister of Defense and the President of the Republic. The military police have their governors as their commander in chief. So, it would be very risky for you to take an initiative like this without consulting with the governors. We are not going to mix things up, this will have to be discussed by the state governors”,

said the MP.

Read more:

PEC will require that only reserve military personnel be able to contest elections

Former director general of the PRF is arrested by the Federal Police for interfering in the 2022 elections

Zambelli sues journalist who was held at gunpoint before the 2nd round of elections