The controlling entity thus gave a new blow to the military sector of the government, which had also had a purchase considered atypical of condensed milk for the troops during training and the main cuts of meat for “churrascos”, as they say in Brazil to eat grilled meat.
The case, beyond the administrative issue, represents a political coup against the Minister of Defense and a henchman of President Jair Bolsonaro, the retired general. Walter Braga Netto, who is being named as a possible vice presidential candidate in the head of state’s reelection bid next October.
The audit was opened to investigate alleged superfluous expenses that have been registered since 2017, from the Michel Temer government, but the spending during the 2020 pandemic drew attention, according to Folha.
The reviewing court notes that it expected less food expenses because all the ministries reduced their face-to-face activities in the wake of the pandemic in 2020.
The audit cause was authorized by Judge Walton Rodrigues, of the court of accounts.
In a statement from the press office of the Ministry of Defense, the Government rejected any speculation about the diversion of funds and argued that, within the framework of the pandemic, the activities of the Army, Navy and Air Force were maintained.
“It does not seem reasonable to allocate the few public resources in the purchase of non-essential items, especially during the health, economic and social crisis that the country is going through due to the pandemic,” says the report.
According to the court of accounts, part of the money for the purchase of meat for the military’s roasts was obtained from the budget item called “21C0-Confrontation of the Public Health Emergency of International Importance caused by the coronavirus”, created in 2020 for actions against Covid-19.
The Bolsonaro government has placed more than 6,000 active and retired soldiers in the entire public administration and has a cabinet with a strong military presence: the president was dismissed due to indiscipline from the Army in 1988 as a lieutenant, after which, with his departure, he was promoted to captain.
The former captain vindicates the military dictatorship (1964-1985) and won the 2018 elections with broad military support, unprecedented in democracy, also leading retired General Hamilton Mourao as vice president.
Bolsonaro’s administration has more military personnel in first- and second-tier positions in civilian positions such as public companies and ministries than the dictatorship itself.
Mourao had been dismissed by former President Dilma Rousseff for insubordination, after questioning the preparation of the report of the Truth Commission on crimes not tried in Brazil during the dictatorship.
According to the court, the military statute foresees food expenses as a right of the military, but these purchases conflict with Article 37 of the Constitution, which speaks of the integrity of public purchases.
“The purpose of purchasing food should be to provide healthy, balanced and adequate food to meet the nutritional need,” says the report.
This audit work confirmed that, among other items considered luxury, alcoholic beverages, fish such as shrimp and cod, and different cuts of meat were bought.
Source From: Ambito
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