The 'Mourão axiom'

247, by José Reinaldo Carvalho for Journalists for Democracy - Since the beginning of the Bolsonaro government, exactly two months ago, part of the political world has been striving to demonstrate what appears to be the 'Mourão theorem'.

The vice-president general has an opinion on everything. And political actors are trying to find out if he is a contender for the presidency in the event of a major political and governmental crisis.

But there's something simpler about the vice-president's performance, which we could call the "Mourão axiom".

Last Monday (25), he acted as chancellor when representing Brazil at the Lima Group meeting, held in Bogotá to discuss the "Venezuelan issue".

In short, the Lima Group is an artificial diplomatic arrangement, composed of satellite countries of US imperialism, governed by the right or far-right, formed to counterbalance the failure that is the Organization of American States (OAS), the former US colonial ministry, now transformed into a piece of junk that no longer has the same functionality as in the past in carrying out the orders of the empire based in Washington.

And the "Venezuelan question" is one of the many international disputes created by the same imperialism, with interventionist aims. Strictly speaking, for the people of the neighboring country and their legitimate and constitutional government, the Venezuelan question is about the continuation of the Bolivarian Revolution, the deepening of the democratic-popular process, the defense of threatened national sovereignty, and overcoming the economic crisis created by objective difficulties and, above all, by the abusive economic, commercial, and financial sanctions imposed by the United States.

When it comes to this subject, we are faced not with a theorem, but with the "Mourão axiom." Venezuela and Maduro embody this axiom; what the general says about it needs no demonstration, it is self-evident. This is when he makes his true thinking, strategic alignment, and geopolitical stance clear.

Support the project Journalists for Democracy The interview he gave to Globonews last Wednesday (27) is enlightening about his own opinions, those of the government he is part of and the Brazilian Armed Forces. These are political positions opposed to everything that is progressive, anti-imperialist and transformative in Latin America.

The vice-president general contested the legality, legitimacy, and authenticity of the May 2018 presidential election, when Maduro was re-elected. He stated emphatically: "There is no doubt about the illegitimacy of Maduro's 'regime'." From this premise he draws the definitive conclusion, which, due to its repetitive nature, seems more like an obsession: "Maduro has to go."

A position that coincides with that of the entire Brazilian establishment and is entirely aligned with that of the President of the United States, Donald Trump, except for the aspect of foreign military intervention.

The essential alignment with the proposal to overthrow Maduro compromises even the rejection of military intervention in Venezuela and Brazilian participation in such a level of aggression. In short, according to Mourão's axiom, Brazil opposes a military solution, but is diligently committed to the downfall of the president of the neighboring country.

Brazilian opposition to military intervention is, therefore, tactical. It contains a good deal of calculation and defensive pragmatism, since Brazil lacks the political, moral, and military capacity to wage war. Furthermore, ceding our territory to a military adventure entirely detached from the country's interests would inevitably place the government and the Armed Forces in the realm of national betrayal.

By aligning himself with Trump in his efforts to overthrow President Maduro, General Mourão made a profession of faith during the interview: he praised the "long-standing alliance with the United States."

He had already advocated for the overthrow of Maduro in his speech at the Lima Group meeting. This time, before a panel of friendly journalists, he spoke in a slightly more colloquial style. He used siege language: "to corner Maduro, to put Maduro in a corner." From siege to attempted annihilation is but a step.

The vice-president's repertoire of statements included praise for the president for receiving Trump's puppet, Juan Guaidó, at the Presidential Palace, to whom he gave advice: "Neutralize the militias, corner Maduro, mobilize the international community" to overthrow the Venezuelan president.

Just to be on the safe side, the vice-president was forced to admit the possibility of Guaidó failing. He is realistic and must have been aware of the reprimands from the Vice-President of the United States, Mike Pence, to the puppet who presides over the Venezuelan National Assembly for failing, since his self-proclamation as "interim president," to fulfill what he promised – the adherence of the Venezuelan Armed Forces and the Bolivarian people to his adventure, and the collection of money from millionaire traitors to buy support through corruption.

In the event of the failure of Operation Guaidó, Mourão suggests to lead the "democratization" of Venezuela names such as Leopoldo López, convicted of murder and under house arrest; Antonio Ledezma, convicted of the same crimes and a fugitive from justice, exiled in Colombia; and Henrique Capriles, the former candidate whom Chávez and Maduro defeated twice consecutively and who is also implicated in legal proceedings in Venezuela.

It is not in Brazil's best interest to have any kind of involvement, even diplomatic, to overthrow the government of another country. It is not only military intervention that the Federal Constitution prohibits. It is any kind of interference and violation of the principle of national self-determination. The Armed Forces certainly know this precept.