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The army commander, General Edson Pujol, said on Friday (13) that the institution does not belong to the government and does not have a political party. The general spoke during a National Defense seminar, promoted by the Armed Forces.
The statement is in line with what Pujol said on Thursday (12), during a direct. At that time, he affirmed that the military does not want to be part of politics nor do they want politics to enter the barracks.
Army Commander Edson Pujol, in August 2019 image – Photo: Fabio Rodrigues Pozzebom / Agência Brasil
The Army commander’s speeches took place in the same week that President Jair Bolsonaro defended the use of “gunpowder” to defend the Amazon. Bolsonaro made the comment referring to the fact that Joe Biden, the president-elect of the United States, defended economic sanctions against Brazil during the election campaign if the country did not stop the destruction of the forest.
“We are not a government institution, we do not have a party, our party is Brazil. Regardless of changes or permanence in a given government for a prolonged period, the Armed Forces take care of the country, the nation. They are permanent state institutions. We do not change our way of thinking and how to carry out our missions every 4 years, “said Pujol at the seminar this Friday.
According to Gerson Camarotti’s blog, the active and reserve generals understand that Pujol is manifesting a discomfort in the category with what they consider Bolsonaro’s attempts to politicize the Army.
The army does not want to be part of politics, says the army commander
The alleged use of “gunpowder” against the United States has prompted a series of criticism by lawmakers against Bolsonaro and jokes on social media, some targeting the army.
Also present at the seminar, Defense Minister Fernando Azevedo e Silva was asked after the event if Bolsonaro’s statement caused embarrassment in the Armed Forces. For the minister, the president used a “force of expression”.
“For me it was a force of expression, that thing. I already told you, the minister is not going to comment on the president’s statement. We are leading our normal lives. We are following within our strategic plans ”, said Azevedo e Silva.
