Brazil’s President Bolsonaro nominates General Freire Gomes to command the Army

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – Brazil’s President Jair Bolsonaro on Thursday nominated General Marco Antônio Freire Gomes as the new Army Commander, replacing Paulo Sérgio de Oliveira, the new Defense Minister.

A Cavalry officer, former military commander of the Northeast, and former executive secretary of the Cabinet of Institutional Security, Freire Gomes is one of the three oldest generals in the Army -one of the criteria for being chosen commander- and also has a relationship with the Planalto Palace.

The transfer of office is expected to take place later this Thursday. On Friday, Paulo Sérgio Oliveira takes over the Defense Ministry in place of Walter Braga Netto, whose resignation was published in an extra edition of the Diário Oficial on Thursday.

The former minister, a reserve general, is expected to be the vice-presidential candidate on President Jair Bolsonaro’s re-election ticket.

Braga Netto had to leave the portfolio because electoral law requires candidates to be disqualified six months before the elections. He, however, will not be without a position.

The reserve general was appointed as a special advisor to the President’s personal cabinet. He can remain in this position until three months before the elections.

With information from Reuters

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