BRASILIA – Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva has sacked the country’s army chief, Julio Cesar de Arruda, in the wake of riots earlier this month by supporters of former leader Jair Bolsonaro, military sources told AFP yesterday.
Arruda had only taken up the post on December 30, two days before the end of Bolsonaro’s mandate, and was confirmed by Lula’s administration in early January.
He will be replaced by southeastern army commander Tomas Ribeiro Paiva, GloboNews reported.
Arruda had taken part in Lula’s first meeting with his military top brass on Friday. Neither had made a statement at the conclusion of those discussions.
The move comes days after Lula removed several dozen soldiers from his security detail following the unrest.
On January 8, Bolsonaro supporters ransacked the presidential palace, Supreme Court and Congress in Brasilia, breaking windows and furniture, destroying priceless works of art, and leaving graffiti messages calling for a military coup.
Lula has said he suspects security forces may have been involved in the riots, in which more than 2,000 people were arrested. The leftist president announced a “deep review” of his immediate environment.
Defence Minister Jose Mucio said following Friday’s meeting with Lula and the military chiefs that there was “no direct armed forces involvement” but added, “if any element participated, they will have to answer as citizens”.
The relationship with the armed forces will be one of Lula’s biggest immediate challenges, say analysts who point to a significant military presence in Bolsonaro’s administration.
On Wednesday, Paiva vowed that the military “will continue to guarantee democracy” and suggested that the election results in which Lula defeated Bolsonaro should be accepted.
“When we vote, we have to respect the result of the polls,” he said in a speech, clips of which were seen on the G1 news website. – AFP, January 22, 2023
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