Múcio: Military man who tries election loses taste for the Forces – 03/29/2023 – Power

Defense Minister José Múcio Monteiro said this Wednesday (29) that military personnel who return to the Armed Forces after taking leave to contest elections lose the principles of hierarchy and discipline and should not return to active duty.

The minister’s statement comes two weeks after the ministry sent to the Planalto Palace a draft of a PEC (proposed amendment to the Constitution) to prohibit military personnel from remaining in active duty if they try to run for elections or assume a position in the Executive.

“You cannot imagine how healthy this is for the country, for democracy. The military has a career, serves the Brazilian State. You go out into politics, you have failure [na eleição] and come back: you’re not even a soldier anymore and you’re dreaming of a new election”, said the minister.

“[O militar que tenta a política] it loses its hierarchical principles and loses its taste for the Armed Forces. We are not banning. Whoever is happy in politics. Whoever stays should be strong as a soldier,” he added.

The minister also said he did not agree with the PEC created by the PT to amend article 142 of the Constitution and remove GLO (Guarantee of Law and Order) operations from the Army.

“There’s no need to mess around now. I’m of the thesis that whoever is in the business of hitting the head doesn’t need rules. We need to talk [com os parlamentares] to arrive at a consensual solution, which establishes a result for what people want”, said Múcio.

As shown to Sheetthe PT has been trying, since the National Constituent Assembly, to remove from the Armed Forces the attribution of acting as a guarantor of law and order —which makes it possible for the military to act in the country’s internal public security.

Faced with the offensive, the commanders of the Forces and Múcio Monteiro prepared a proposal to limit changes in article 142 of the Constitution and remove only the possibility for military personnel who run for political office to remain in active duty.

According to reports of generals made to the Sheeta proposal of this type seeks to prevent deeper changes, such as the PT’s attempt to amend Article 142, from advancing in the National Congress —although the Army’s parliamentary advisory sees little chance of a PEC on the subject succeeding.

Múcio spoke with journalists after the end of an STM (Superior Military Court) ceremony for the decoration of military and civilians.

Among those who received the main honor were the mayor, Arthur Lira (PP-AL), former Minister of Defense Paulo Sérgio Nogueira, commanders Tomás Paiva (Army), Marcos Olsen (Navy) and Marcelo Damasceno (Aeronautics). and the head of the Joint Chiefs of Staff of the Armed Forces, Admiral Aguiar Freire.

The president of the Senate, Rodrigo Pacheco (PSD-MG), was also invited to receive the highest honor, the Grand Cross of the Military Judiciary Order of Merit, but he missed the ceremony. Military personnel present stated, subject to reservation, that the senator’s presence was canceled after Arthur Lira confirmed his participation.

On the ceremonial list, Pacheco and Lira would be side by side. The two are having problems in their relationship in the face of disagreements over the processing of MPs (provisional measures).

“There’s a certain tension [sobre o impasse das MPs]because the government needs these things to be approved, but this will be resolved”, said Múcio at the end of the ceremony.