Lula begins to purge the government of the army in an atmosphere of insecurity.

In his first twenty days in office, the progressive leader About 140 soldiers gave up their services Those who work in organs related to the Presidency’s security and administration.

The departure of these soldiers had been occurring since Lula’s inauguration, but It gained momentum after the attack on the Presidency, Congress and Supreme Court headquarters. by thousands of supporters of the far-right ex-governor Jair Bolsonaro.

Goal: disarm the government

On Tuesday, Lula’s government He exempted 40 soldiers working under the Palacio de la AlvoradaOfficial residence of the President.

Between Wednesday and Thursday, it was the turn of about twenty people in the Corporate Security Cabinet (GSI) who held various positions responsible for protecting the life of the president.

This paradigm shift regarding the weight of the armed forces. Having achieved a force field not seen since the days of dictatorship (1964-1985) with Bolsonaro, a retired Captain, the Government enters into Lula’s plans to demilitarize the public administration.

The number of military, active or reserve civilian posts rose from 2,765 in 2018, a year before Bolsonaro took power, according to official data. up to 6,157 in 2020close to half of these are “assigned” positions that the new government can change in the short term.

Depoliticizing the barracks is the other big challenge won. A sense of urgency since the violent attack on the institutions that tried to topple Lula on January 8 and bring Bolsonaro back to power.

Although the government suspected that the few soldiers it intended to punish were involved in the coup, the Armed Forces remained loyal to the Constitution as an institution and to Lula as commander-in-chief. “whatever the patent is.”

atmosphere of distrust

Lula himself has sown doubts about the performance of parts of the armed forces. Against the attack on Brasília.

Last week, at a breakfast with reporters, he reassured that “a large number of soldiers and policemen” were killed. “collusion” with the coup attempt and you “convinced” That someone in the Planalto presidential palace “facilitated” the entry of radicals.

In an interview with GloboNews on Wednesday, he again demonstrated this distrust by criticizing the “Army, Police and Navy” intelligence agencies for failing to inform him that radical Bolsonarists were organizing for the attack.

And it was detailed when warning about it. “Whoever wants to do politics, take off his uniform, resign from his post and start a political party”.

But he cannot do politics while in the Armed Forces, “because it is a State institution,” he said.

In an attempt to “turn the page”, LulHe met with the Land, Naval and Aviation commanders for two hours on Friday. Accompanied by Defense Minister José Múcio and some businessmen to discuss investments and modernization plans.

According to Múcio, the attack on Brasília was “not discussed”, but after he left he told reporters that from his point of view there was “no direct intervention by the Armed Forces”.

“If any element joins individually, they will respond as a citizen,” he said, to guarantee later that the military would not allow a new division as on January 8 and agreed to take action against anyone involved. .

Amid the demilitarization of presidential positions, the Lula Government It also fired 27 district inspectors of the Federal Highway Police and 18 investigators of the Federal Police this week.

Such changes in police commands are normal when a new administration steps in, but this time they are made more quickly and in depth.

Meanwhile, operations are being carried out to identify the organizers and financiers of the coup attempt across the country.

Bolsonaro is currently on the list of those being investigated by the Supreme Court. Without a return ticket in the United Statesfor encouraging his supporters to attack democratic institutions.