Status: 01/02/2023 09:15 AM
Two weeks ago, Bolsonaro supporters stormed the government district in Brasília, and now President Lula is taking another consequence: He’s firing the army chief — and filling the post with a loyalist.
After storming the government district of Brasília, Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva replaced the army chief.
Lula wrote on Twitter: “Today, I spoke with Defense Minister José Museo to General Tomás Miguel Ribeiro Paiva, the new commander of the army.” Lula also wished the new commander success in his work.
Former Commander, Southeast Command
Ribeiro Paiva, who succeeded Julio César de Arruda, was a former commander of the Southeastern Command stationed in São Paulo. He had said in a video clip this week that the election results must be respected in order to ensure democracy.
On January 8, supporters of the head of state, Jair Bolsonaro, who had just been replaced by Lula It stormed Congress, the seat of government and the Supreme Court in Brasília, causing massive damage. About 1,500 right-wing Bolsonaro supporters have been arrested at the moment.
Allegations of electoral fraud
The background is that many people in Brazil do not want to recognize the victory of the new President Lula in the October elections. Because they suspect fraud due to the closeness of the election result, they have repeatedly called for military intervention.
The left-wing politician Lula expressed his suspicions that the rioters, for example with members of the army and the federal police of the metropolitan area, made arrangements while storming the government district of the capital. Out of mistrust, he had already relieved dozens of military personnel from their duties at the presidential residence and renewed the head of the police force.
