Military Crisis and Coup Paranoia in Brazil
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In early April 2021, a political earthquake compounded Brazil’s severe health crisis. After President Jair Bolsonaro fired his defense minister during a broader cabinet reshuffle, the heads of Brazil’s Army, Navy, and Air Force resigned in protest. The Bolsonaro administration has been particularly reliant on the military, staffing positions throughout the government with current and former members of the armed forces. The brouhaha came as Brazil continues to suffer from the COVID-19 pandemic and amid calls for Bolsonaro’s impeachment. It also fell on the eve of the 57th anniversary of the 1964 coup (which put the Brazilian military in charge until 1985), tweaking widespread fears about Bolsonaro’s authoritarian proclivities, and stimulating abundant punditry around the region.
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