Lula da Silva prepares the ‘demilitarization’ of Brazil’s federal government

When President Jair Bolsonaro (Liberal Party – PL, right) took office in 2019, then-Chief of Staff Minister Onyx Lorenzoni stated that it was necessary to “despetizar” (“un-PT-nize”) Brazil,” that is, to remove all “Petistas” (PT – Workers’ Party politicians) who until then held positions of trust in the federal executive branch.

Bolsonaro’s team exonerated hundreds of employees identified as PT militants who held commissioned positions in the Planalto Palace and the ministries.

Even before assuming the presidency, Lula da Silva (Workers’ Party – PT, left) warned that he would ‘demilitarize’ the federal public administration.

“We are going to start the government knowing that we will remove almost 8,000 military personnel who are in positions, people who didn’t take part in competitive examinations,” da Silva declared in April during a meeting at the Central Workers Union.

In some agencies, there are studies ready. Officials from the Brazilian Intelligence Agency (Abin) linked to the PT have sent the party suggestions on demilitarizing the Institutional Security Cabinet (GSI). The reform would include the extinction of the agency.

The ‘demilitarization’ the party wants to promote should reach other government areas.

A survey conducted two years ago by the Federal Audit Court showed that the number of military personnel in civilian positions in Bolsonaro’s government doubled compared to former President Michel Temer’s government.

There were 2,765 in 2018. In 2020, there were more than 6,000.

With information from Veja

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