Besides some ministers of his “personal quota”, president-elect Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva (PT, progressive-globalist) promises to officially announce, this Friday (Dec. 9), the names of the future commanders of the Armed Forces in his government.
The announcement is expected to be made by the future Defense Minister José Múcio Monteiro, former minister of the Federal Audit Court, as soon as his name is confirmed in the portfolio by Lula da Silva.
The choice of the military chiefs must respect the criterion of seniority, as indicated by the tradition of the High Command of the three forces.
The one who assumes the Army’s general command is the “four-star” general Júlio César Arruda, currently head of the Engineering and Construction Department.
In the Air Force, the command passes to Air Lieutenant Brigadier Marcelo Damasceno, currently Chief of Staff of the Air Force. Admiral Marcos Sampaio Olsen, the current Commander of Naval Operations, was chosen to command the Navy.
In principle, they should assume their posts on Jan. 1, 2023, right after President Lula’s inauguration.
It is not discarded, however, that the transfer of power in the military hierarchy may be anticipated.
The current commander of the Air Force, Brigadier Carlos de Almeida Baptista Júnior, has expressed his desire to leave his post before the presidential inauguration.
With information from Gazeta do Povo