Defense Minister Denies Concern about U.S. Capitol Invasion Effect on Brazilian Election

General Paulo Sérgio says that the Armed Forces do not question electronic voting machines, but seek improvements

Defense Minister General Paulo Sérgio Nogueira said this Wednesday (6th) that the Armed Forces are not concerned about violence by groups opposed to the Brazilian electoral process in a reenactment of the invasion of the Capitol in the United States, after the defeat of Donald Trump.

The statement was made during a hearing at the Chamber's Committee on Foreign Relations and National Defense.

BRASILIA, DF, 29-4-2021 - Defense Minister general Paulo Sérgio Nogueira. Foto: Waldemir Barreto/Agência Senado - Waldemir Barreto/Agência Senado

At the hearing, the minister was asked by deputy Perpétua Almeida (PC do B-RJ) whether the Armed Forces' intelligence teams monitor "armed groups or malicious people [who may try to] interfere and disrupt the electoral process." "What are our Armed Forces doing to avoid a Capitol, for example?", asked the congresswoman.

The minister replied that the Armed Forces have integrated intelligence systems, but he does not see any risk of violent acts.

"The concern that you expose in the comment regarding the use of intelligence internally and, I don't know if that was the intention, with regard to the electoral process, I deny and there is no such concern [reissue of the invasion of the Capitol in Brazil]."

Translated by Kiratiana Freelon

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