Brazilian Superior Court lifts suspension and approves army’s purchase of 98 armored vehicles

The president of the Brazilian Superior Court of Justice (STJ), minister Maria Thereza de Assis Moura, authorized on Wednesday (Dec. 14) that the Brazilian Army resumed buying 98 armored cars.

The minister overturned the decision of the Federal Regional Court of the 1st Region (TRF1) that suspended the purchase.

The 98 armored vehicles of the Centauro II model would be the first batch of the purchase of 221 units ordered from the Italian consortium Iveco-Oto Melara (CIO).

Lawyer Charles Capella de Abreu filed the popular action against the acquisition. He questioned the value of the investment amid the government’s budget blocks.

Abreu pointed out in the request that the negotiation would cost more than R$5 billion (US$900 million).

The president of the STJ argued that the purchase is part of a long-term project and that payment will be made over 17 years.

“The project in question – ‘Project Armored Forces’ – began in 2012, therefore more than ten years ago, and is not something drawn up hastily or suddenly.”

“The expenditure was duly included in the 2020-2023 Multi-Year Plan, approved by the National Congress in December 2019, and included as a ‘Priority Multi-Year Investment,'” the minister said.

“Contrary to what was stated in the contested decision, there is no provision for instantaneous disbursement of the amount of R$5 billion.”

“There is, rather, the need for payment of R$1 million (significantly less than the amount indicated) by Dec. 15, 2022, as a form of confirmation of the contract and within the commitment period of the budget allocation for 2023,” wrote Maria Thereza.

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