The former president () and allies, including four general officers, marks a paradigm shift in the way the country’s institutions deal with attempts to.
Specialists heard by Sheet They point out that the eventual condemnation of the generals, Augusto Heleno and Paulo Sérgio Nogueira and Admiral Almir Garnier – in addition to a subsequent judgment in the Military Justice – will have an impact on and how military see their participation in politics.
“This judgment has broken a relationship pattern between scammers and the government since the military began to intervene in Brazilian politics in the 19th century, in the coup d’état that led to the Republic,” says Professor Adriana Marques, coordinator of the UFRJ Security and Defense Studies Laboratory (Federal University of Rio de Janeiro).
“It is an unprecedented process. There has never been an indictment of scammers, especially when there was an unsuccessful attempt of coup. Before even started punishment, but there was soon amnesty,” adds Carlos Fico, a Brazilian history professor at the same university.
Braga Netto, former minister of the Civil House and Defense and candidate for deputy in the electoral plate led by Bolsonaro, is accused of investigating in the conspiracy.
Heleno, a former (Institutional Security Office), is named as one of those responsible for building Bolsonaro’s narrative against the electronic ballot boxes. The general was, one of the rare crowned triplices – a title given to the military who occupied first place in the three most important courses of military formation.
For the former defense minister Paulo Sérgio was silent and subjectively adhered to the plan.
Garnier was indicated as, giving her moral and material support.
The researchers explain that the pattern established over the last century was forgiveness and approval of the military who were involved in attacks against legally constituted governments.
As an example, I am mentioned, among different cases, the attempt to uprise the military within the call, in the Rodrigues Alves government. It ended with the amnesty involved.
Years later, in 1956, the president would ask the National Congress to approve a amnesty for the uniforms who took part in the Jacareacanga revolt in Pará-a moving that tried to depose him of power.
Marques and I say that there are specific characteristics of the present moment that took the officers involved to the defendants, with the possibility of unprecedented conviction for insurrection.
For Marques, the more than three decades of uninterrupted democratic coexistence after the end of the military dictatorship made a difference.
“It is greatly attributed to the fact that there was no blow because there was four or five generals of the Army High Command that did not stop. This is a fact of the situation. General Heleno himself said he had no climate to blow – this lack of climate is the result of resistance from organized civil society, the press, the legislature itself,” he says.
I am, in turn, points out that another factor was the strengthening of the (Supreme Federal Court), the Attorney General’s Office and the Federal Police from the 1988 Constitution.
“Since 1988 Brazil has faced serious crises, with two impeachments of president, but this strengthening has been fundamental for the conduct of these situations in those years,” he says.
The result of the trial, may function as an alert to the military class that attempts to subversion of the democratic order will have a different treatment from now on, according to the teachers. The question of the politicization of the Armed Forces, however, will remain a challenge.
In addition, Marques estimates that it will be extremely important to follow the one, which should occur after the STF decision. The Military Court shall comment on the loss of the post and the patent for officers sentenced to more than two years in prison.
Although the STM does not enter the details of the eventual conviction in the Supreme and plays a homologation role, two members of the Court heard Sheet The eventual condemnation of four-star generals and a former president of the Republic may tensize the military court and generate discussions about the process.
“This judgment will tell us how the Armed Forces are understanding and interpreting this process,” says Marques.
