PortraitThe general has for years played a decisive role in the shadow of far-right leader Jair Bolsonaro. Aged 73, he has never hidden his nostalgia for the dictatorship and his taste for the hard way.
This November 24, 2018, Jair Bolsonaro hesitates. Newly elected president of Brazil, the far-right leader takes part in a military ceremony in honor of the Rio de Janeiro infantry parachute brigade, of which he was once a part. Surrounded by soldiers in fatigues and red berets, the new head of state is among his family. But now, when he climbs the steps of the staircase leading to the headquarters of the brigade, he freezes. To his left is a small elderly man, scowling, dressed like him in a dark suit, without a tie. Bolsonaro seizes him by the shoulder, invites him to precede him. With a gesture, the person refuses, indicating to the president that, because of his status, it is up to him to go first. Bolsonaro does so, visibly embarrassed.
Who is this man for whom he shows so much consideration, even submission? To speak of General Augusto Heleno, 73, Brazilian journalists compete for qualifiers. To believe them, he would be at the same time “the gray eminence”, “the mentor”, “the right arm”, “the gun-bearer”, “the brother in arms”, “the spiritual father”, ” the friend ”and even“ the confidant ”of the president. On the surface, however, Mr. Heleno, who refused to answer the questions of the World, is far from impressing. With his still grumpy air, he is more like Droopy character. Officially, with Jair Bolsonaro, he also occupies “only” the function of head of the institutional security cabinet, the little-known GSI.
In fact, this post is central in the system in place in Brasilia. Heleno has the rank of minister, he has an office in the presidential palace and only answers to the head of state. As head of the GSI, he has vast prerogatives, assists Jair Bolsonaro on military, security or aerospace issues, ensures the security of computer systems, coordinates the nuclear program … Above all, he is responsible for the Agency Brazilian intelligence, secret service. ” The GSI is the deep state par excellence ”, sums up a connoisseur of the arcana of Brasilia.
Commando methods
Even more crucial: General Heleno is responsible for the security of the Head of State and his family. A tough task for this paranoid president, who narrowly escaped a knife attack in 2018, and who is sleeping with a gun on his bedside table. “ In this position, we only put someone in whom we have absolute confidence ”, our source continues.
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