Brazil’s army announces it will not punish ex-health minister over rally with Bolsonaro

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – Army Commander General Paulo Sérgio Nogueira decided to dismiss the proceedings against General Eduardo Pazuello, ex-minister of Health, for his participation in a political rally in Rio de Janeiro on May 23 with President Jair Bolsonaro.

The decision not to punish the officer for climbing on a sound car and delivering a brief speech – without a mask – after a motorcycle caravan in support of the president, was released this Thursday afternoon in an official statement.

“Regarding the participation of Division General EDUARDO PAZUELLO in an event held in the City of Rio de Janeiro, on May 23, 2021, the Army Social Communication Center announces that the Army Commander analyzed and accepted the arguments presented in writing and sustained orally by the aforementioned General-Officer. Thus, the practice of disciplinary transgression by General PAZUELLO was not verified. As a consequence, the administrative proceedings previously opened have been closed,” says the communiqué.

Read: Brazil’s Vice president says Eduardo Pazuello should be punished for attending Bolsonaro rally

The Army’s Disciplinary Regulation states that “to publicly manifest oneself, in active military service, unauthorized, regarding matters of political party nature” is a transgression.

An ally of the president, who opposed the punishment, Pazuello was appointed on Tuesday to a position in the Planalto Palace, within the Special Secretariat for Strategic Affairs of the Presidency of the Republic. Last month, days before taking part in the event in Rio, he testified before the Senate’s Covid CPI (investigative committee) and was praised by Bolsonarists for his loyalty to the president.

Pazuello was recalled to testify because, according to rapporteur Renan Calheiros, he “lied a lot” in his first passage through the committee. The date for the new questioning will depend on the CPI president’s decision, Omar Aziz.

The still-active-duty Army general was in charge of the Ministry of Health for about 10 months, from which he was dismissed a little over 2 months ago by Bolsonaro.