Brazil’s Defense Minister Discards Military Intervention in Country

By Lise Alves, Senior Contributing Reporter

SÃO PAULO, BRAZIL – After weeks of rumors, Brazilian Defense Minister, Raul Jungmann discarded on Saturday any possibility of military intervention in Brazil due to the on-going political crisis. According to Jungman there is no room for any military involvement in the country outside of what is determined by the Constitution.

“There is peace and tranquility inside the barracks and in the Armed Forces,” said Jungmann in an event to mark the end of Brazilian military aid. According to the government official the Armed Forces are committed to working within the boundaries established by the 1988 Constitution.

“There is no possibility of any military intervention because we live in a democratic situation and that is what will continue to be with the support of our Armed Forces,” added Jungmann.

Jungmann stressed that Brazil is living a good moment, with the Lava Jato (Car Wash) graft investigations, punishing corrupt businessmen and politicians. “Why a military intervention, if Brazil is being cleaned? We have the Lava Jato, which is punishing those who are responsible for corruption,” concluded the official.

The statements by the minister, however, are a response to growing movements calling for the return of the military regime, if civil society does not solve its political and judicial impasses. Recent protests and street demonstrations have included small groups calling for military interventionism in the country.

One of those who has openly defended Brazil’s past military dictatorship and now suggests that intervention would be a favorable solution to the current political turbulence is far-right-wing Congressional representatives, Jair Bolsonaro, a former military man and one of the possible front-runners in next year’s presidential elections.

The Congressman recently made a trip to the U.S. where he tried to garner support for his presidential bid portraying himself as a mainstream right-wing politician. Although some listened, most U.S. analysts were critical of his openly sexist, homophobic and racist views, dubbing him one of the ‘most controversial Brazilian political figures’ in recent years.