New Army commander preached confidence in polls and non-partisan Armed Forces

The new commander of the Army, General Tomás Miguel Ribeiro Paiva, stated that the result of the polls must be respected, regardless of the president-elect. Paiva, 62 years old, took the place of General Júlio Cesar de Arruda, dismissed this Saturday by President Lula (PT). The soldier’s statement was made on Wednesday (18), during a ceremony in honor of the soldiers killed on January 12, 2010 after an earthquake in Haiti, at an event held at the Integrated Headquarters, in São Paulo.

“Today, today, these last few days, we are experiencing a kind of earthquake in Brazil. That it is an earthquake of another origin. A political earthquake. A political earthquake that did not cause any fatalities, but causes injuries, causes deaths. First, because it is driven by the virtual environment that has no brakes. And all of us today are slaves of the virtual environment. We all frequent social networks, we are all hyper-informed by different groups that we frequent: WhatsApp, Facebook, Instagram, everything. And this avalanche of things, of information, the excess of information, there is only one remedy, which is more information. It is to inform yourself with quality. It is to look for reliable sources”, said the general.

Paiva also stated that this “earthquake” was trying to “kill” the hierarchy and discipline of the Armed Forces. “So this violence, this inconsistency, this disrespect, has been attacking us. This earthquake is trying to kill our cohesion, our hierarchy and discipline, our professionalism, the respect we have, the pride we have in wearing this uniform. And it won’t make it, ”she said. “That’s what being in the military is. It’s being professional. It’s respecting hierarchy and discipline. It’s being cohesive. It’s integrity. It’s having spirit of body. It’s defending the homeland. It’s being a State institution. Apolitical, non-partisan,” he declared.

The military cannot express an opinion, says Paiva

Also during his speech, Paiva stated that it does not matter who is in charge, as the Armed Forces would continue to fulfill their mission. The general also stated that the military can have an opinion, but cannot express it.

“It doesn’t matter who’s in charge, we’re going to accomplish the mission the same way. That’s being military. It’s not having current. This does not mean that the person is not a citizen, that the person cannot exercise his right, have his opinion. He can have it, but he cannot manifest it. He may hear a lot, but he does what’s right. Even if the correct one is unpopular, ”he said.

According to the general, it is necessary to respect the result of the polls, even if it is not expected. “In spite of turmoil, earthquakes, tsunamis, we are not going to remain upright, cohesive, respectful and guaranteeing our democracy, because democracy presupposes freedom and individual guarantees, public policies and is also the regime of the people, of alternation of power. It’s the vote. And, when we vote, we have to respect the result of the ballot box”, said Paiva.

“Does not matter. Must respect. That’s what you do. This is the conviction that we must have. Even if we don’t like it. We don’t always like it. It’s not always what we wanted. Does not matter. This is the role of a state institution. Institution that respects the values ​​of the homeland, as well as of the State”, concluded the new commander of the Army.