Brazil

Brazil Elections: Military

Is Brazil's military rightly returning to its constitutional role or has it lost its credibility after surrendering to Lula?

6 days ago·Updated 10 hours ago

Context

Above: Brazilian soldiers march during Independence Day parade in Rio de Janeiro on Sept. 7. Image credit: Fabio Teixeira/Anadolu/Getty Images

The Spin

Narrative A

Brazil's Armed Forces have deliberately distanced themselves from electoral politics after years of politicization under Jair Bolsonaro. Commanders barred active-duty personnel from political activity on social media and worked quietly to reverse the militarization that marked election cycles in 2018 and 2022. This quiet discipline shows the military correctly returning to its constitutional mission.

O Globo

Narrative B

Military leadership has lost ground politically after bowing to leftist power instead of defending institutional integrity. When military leaders humiliate themselves before Lula, absurdly claiming communism doesn't exist in Brazil, the Armed Forces' credibility erodes. Indeed, the military has left patriots wondering who will defend the nation's institutions, as high-ranking officers prove they are merely career-focused bureaucrats.

Gazeta do Povo