“We have to support the politics of the moment”, says Air Force commander
The Air Force commander, Air Lieutenant-Brigadier Marcelo Kanitz Damasceno, said that the Force command cannot get directly involved with politics, but has “to support the politics of the moment”. Damasceno also stated that the ten brigadiers who make up the Air Force General Staff are “very focused on air defense and preparation for war” and have “no distrust of anything” in relation to the Lula government.
“There is great trust among the ten in the High Command. We have to work in support of the government. I didn’t have any movement within the Force in which I had to take disciplinary action due to the political situation. We can’t get directly involved in politics, but we have to support the politics of the moment. We cannot stop being happy for four years, waiting for candidate A or B to be re-elected or elected. Our activity is independent of government. We are a state force”, stated Damasceno in an interview with the newspaper The globethis Sunday (11).
The commander also said that he has a “very urban” relationship with Lula (PT) and that the PT member is “greatly concerned about the re-equipment of the Armed Forces”.
Asked about the Federal Police (PF) operation that targeted former president Jair Bolsonaro (PL) and allies, including military personnel, the commander said he had no information about the inclusion of members of the Air Force in the investigation.
“The Air Force Command agrees with the need for a complete investigation, guaranteeing broad defense and contradictory action for all involved, following the necessary procedural rite provided for in the current legal system. Anything that violates our disciplinary regulations will be punished. For the Air Force, the news (about the investigations) confirmed the institutional and constitutional role of our organization”, said Damasceno, stating that the Air Force remained exempt during the Bolsonaro government.
Damasceno reached the top command of the Air Force in 2020, during Bolsonaro.