Analysis-Lula confronts Brazil military's pro-Bolsonaro lean with carrot and stick

Brazil's President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva attends a bilateral agreement signing ceremony with Argentina's President Alberto Fernandez (not pictured), during Lula da Silva's first official visit abroad since his inauguration, at the Casa Rosada presidential palace in Buenos Aires, Argentina, January 23, 2023. REUTERS/Agustin Marcarian

BRASILIA (Reuters) - President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva has taken a carrot-and-stick approach to asserting authority over Brazil's armed forces and containing sympathies in the barracks for his predecessor after violent unrest in the capital this month.

On Saturday, Lula fired the army commander for not following his government's orders to dismantle a tent city of Bolsonaro supporters who clamored for a military coup and stormed government buildings on Jan. 8, a government source said.