Lula says he is committed to depoliticizing the Armed Forces – 03/21/2023 – Politics

President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva (PT) said this Tuesday (21) that he obtained a commitment from military commanders to act in the sense of depoliticizing the Armed Forces.

Lula also added that his government intends to send a proposal to the National Congress so that military personnel who intend to run for elected office have to move to the reserve.

Lula gave an interview this Tuesday (21st) to the Brasil 247 portal. ).

“I have the word of the three Forces that there will be a great effort to depoliticize the Armed Forces. You know, we are going to discuss it with the National Congress, we are interested in sending the bill, you know, saying that whoever wants to be candidate for something, go to reserve. What you can’t do is use the Armed Forces to do politics”, said the president.

The Lula government articulates a proposal to prevent military personnel who assume political or civilian positions from remaining in active duty. The suggestion was born from conversations between Minister José Múcio and the commander of the Army, General Tomás Paiva. Commanders Marcos Olsen (Navy) and Marcelo Damasceno (Aeronautics) also did not oppose the idea.

According to reports of generals made to the Sheetthe advancement of a proposal of this type also seeks to prevent deeper changes, such as the PT’s attempt to amend article 142 of the Constitution, from advancing in the National Congress —although the parliamentary advisory of the Army sees little chance of a PEC (proposal of amendment to the Constitution) on the subject succeed.

In an interview with Sheetsenator and former vice-president Hamilton Mourão (Republicanos-RS) stated that Lula intends to treat the military as “second-class citizens”, with this proposal.

This was the first time that the Chief Executive mentioned the proposal publicly.

Lula pointed out that he has been getting closer to the military again, a situation that already existed in his first two terms. He recalled that he had lunch on Thursday (16) at the Navy Command and stated that these events will be repeated in other military forces. He said he will not “pour” with the Armed Forces.

“I just want them to comply with what is in the Constitution,” said the president.

“We will not be able to make this country democratic when we live with the […] the military cannot be differentiated human beings. I will treat them with the respect I think they deserve. And I want them to treat democracy the way it deserves,” added the president.

Lula once again affirmed that all those involved in the coup acts of January 8 will be punished by Civil Justice, not Military Justice.

The representative was later asked about Bolsonaro’s role in the events of that day and whether he believed that the former president would be arrested. “It is not the President of the Republic who determines whether he will be arrested or not,” said Lula, adding that he hoped that he would have due legal process, in which the presumption of innocence would be safeguarded.

“I want for them everything I didn’t have,” he said, referring to his judgment in the context of the Lava Jato operation.