The Minister of Defense, José Múcio Monteiro, announced on Saturday night the change in the Army Command. General Tomás Miguel Ribeiro Paiva assumes the command in place of General Júlio César de Arruda, appointed in December during the transition government.
“Relations, especially in the Army Command, have suffered a fracture at a level of trust and we felt that we needed to stop this right from the beginning in order to overcome this episode. I wanted to present the substitute, General Tomás, who as of today is the new commander,” said José Múcio Monteiro. “Today, we are investing once again in bringing our Armed Forces closer to the government of President Lula.”
The announcement of the change of command was made after a meeting attended by President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, the Minister of Defense, the new Army commander, and the Minister of the Civil House, Rui Costa. Lula then posted a photo on Twitter with General Tomás Miguel Ribeiro Paiva and wished the general “good work.
The new Army commander was heading the Southeast Military Command. Since 1975 in his military career, he has commanded troops in the Haiti mission and in the pacification of Complexo do Alemão, in Rio de Janeiro, and was military advisor of Brazil to the Ecuadorian Army.
At an event on January 18, which brought together military personnel who served in Haiti, General Tomás Miguel Ribeiro Paiva defended that the result of the elections should be respected.
New Commander calls meeting of the Brazilian Army High Command for this Tuesday
The new Army Commander, General Tomás Miguel Ribeiro Paiva, called a meeting of the corps High Command for this Tuesday (24th). It will be the first summit meeting of the new administration.
The meeting will serve to show the Army’s new guidelines with the change in command.
Tomás Paiva was announced as the new head of the military on Saturday (21) by the Minister of Defense, José Múcio Monteiro, after President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva dismissed General Júlio Cesar de Arruda from his post.
On Monday, Múcio and Paiva met for breakfast. After the meeting, the minister spoke to the press and said he hadn’t given the general any guidelines.
Múcio also reiterated that since the terrorist acts of January 8, there has been a “breach of trust” – which has made it “very difficult to work” with people “under suspicion.”
“(The meeting with the new commander) Was great, a lengthy conversation. He is excited. He will meet with his commanders,” the minister said.
*** Translated by the DEFCONPress FYI Team ***