Brasília – Maria Elizabeth Rocha, recently elected as the first female president of the Superior Tribunal Militar (STM), has openly criticized former President Jair Bolsonaro, stating that the “Armed Forces were utilized politically” during his administration. In an interview with CNN Brazil on Friday, Rocha noted that the lack of a solid parliamentary base led Bolsonaro to appoint military personnel to key positions, which, according to her, undermined the credibility of the institution.
“Having come from the barracks, his trusted individuals were military personnel—beyond that old belief that the military would moderate the state when the logic should be the other way around: civil power must command the military,” declared Rocha.
Rocha is set to assume her role officially on March 12, marking her as the first woman to serve a full term as president of the STM, having previously held the position in a temporary capacity from 2014 to 2015, breaking a tradition of over 200 years dominated by male leadership in the Court.
Impact of Jair Bolsonaro on the Armed Forces
The new president expressed that the significant presence of military figures in Jair Bolsonaro’s government negatively impacted the Armed Forces, damaging the institution’s image in society.
“The Navy, Army, and Air Force were extremely harmed and had their credibility undermined because of a head of state who lost control of his government,” Rocha remarked.
However, she acknowledged that while Bolsonaro used the Armed Forces as a political support base, many military officials also benefited from their elevated roles in government.
“He relied on the military, but many of them also gained significantly from the prominence they achieved in government,” Rocha noted.
Throughout Bolsonaro’s four-year presidency, multiple generals were appointed to key positions within the executive branch, including ministries of Defense, Health, Infrastructure, and the Chief of Staff, as well as in significant roles in state-owned enterprises and lower-tier positions.
Judgement of January 8 acts and potential amnesty
Rocha was also asked about the judgment of those involved in the January 8, 2023, coup attempts, which resulted in the sentencing of 371 individuals by the Supreme Federal Court (STF). According to Rocha, some of the sentences were “too severe,” but she believes it is premature to discuss amnesty for the convicted.
“The National Congress can do it; the president can even grant pardons if he wishes. However, it seems strange to discuss amnesty now, given that not all trials have concluded,” she stated.
So far, 225 individuals have been deemed direct executors of the more serious crimes, while 146 were identified as instigators of the attempted insurrection. The trial of those who financed and intellectually guided the actions is still ongoing.
Female representation in the STM
As the sole woman on the STM, Maria Elizabeth Rocha used her interview to appeal to President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva (PT), urging him to appoint another woman for the upcoming vacancy in the Court, expected in April.
“I am here asking, pleading with the president to appoint a woman, so that I have a companion by my side who can, along with me, advocate for gender issues,” she emphasized.
She highlighted the importance of diversity within the STM, stating that she often feels her perspective is not adequately heard due to being the only woman on the Court.
“Many times, because I am the only one on the Court, my voice is scarcely heard. But I do not surrender to homogeneity; I am a voice of difference and want to be heterogeneous,” Rocha expressed.
Rocha further noted that appointing another woman to the STM would represent a significant step towards achieving gender equality within military institutions and expressed her desire to swear in a new female minister during her tenure.
“Having a woman on the STM would be a great victory, especially after I take on the presidency. I would love to appoint a woman,” she concluded.
The pursuit of greater female representation in the judiciary and the Armed Forces has been a recurring theme in recent years. In 2014, Maria Elizabeth Rocha became the first woman to preside over the STM, paving the way for future appointments.
The future of the STM under Maria Elizabeth Rocha
With her inauguration scheduled for March 12, expectations are high that Maria Elizabeth Rocha will enact changes at the STM, particularly concerning the independence of the Armed Forces from political influence.
Her term is also expected to focus on discussions regarding the punishments for those involved in the acts of January 8, alongside potential internal changes within the Court.
Rocha’s critical stance towards Jair Bolsonaro suggests that she may adopt a firm position in defending the institutional integrity of the Armed Forces, asserting that civil power should command the military, not vice versa.
It remains to be seen how her statements and administration will influence Brazil’s political landscape and the relationship between the STM and the federal government.
- Jair Bolsonaro and the Armed Forces
- STM and the judgment of the January 8 acts
- Maria Elizabeth Rocha as president of the STM
- Amnesty for January 8 convicts
- Women in the Superior Tribunal Militar
