Marielle case is another investigation reaching Paes base – 03/25/2024 – Power

The arrest of federal deputy Chiquinho Brazão (União Brasil), on suspicion of involvement in being one of the masterminds behind the murder of councilwoman Marielle Franco, is the second investigation into the actions of militias to affect the base of mayor Eduardo Paes (PSD), pre -candidate for re-election.

Chiquinho was municipal secretary of Community Action until February, when he left the position but maintained allies in the department. In December, deputy Lucinha (PSD) was the target of an operation on suspicion of involvement with militias. The mayor’s ally has her son as a member of the first echelon of city hall.

The setbacks for Paes should be part of the campaign of federal deputy Alexandre Ramagem (PL), chosen by former president Jair Bolsonaro as a pre-candidate in Rio de Janeiro.

Former minister Fábio Wajngarten, the former president’s direct hand, indicated this Sunday (24) that Brazão’s arrest should be used against Paes.

“If the election in the city of Rio was minimally worked on, it ended today [domingo]. Get to work,” he said on his X (formerly Twitter) account.

In a statement, the city hall stated that Brazão was appointed by the Republicans to take over the secretariat and replaced after the disclosure of the accusation of former PM Ronnie Lessa, accused of being the perpetrator of the crime.

“When speculation about the case arose, the party was asked to nominate a name to replace him and he was exonerated at the beginning of 2024. Rio City Hall reinforces its support for the investigations into the murder of Marielle Franco and Anderson Gomes and hopes that the case be clarified by the courts”, said the municipality, in a statement.

The mayor did not comment on Lucinha’s case.

Chiquinho Brazão was arrested with his brother, Domingos Brazão, advisor to the TCE (State Audit Court), on suspicion of being the ones who ordered Marielle’s death. They deny the accusations.

This Sunday, politicians opposing the mayor began sharing a video in which Paes participates in an event alongside the Brazão family in Jacarepaguá (west zone). The meeting is treated as an informal launch of the pre-candidacy of Kaio Brazão, Chiquinho’s son, for councilor in the city.

Paes also demonstrated closeness to the deputy during his inauguration ceremony as secretary, in October. He described him as a “sweet, beloved, but very serious, direct and objective” politician.

“A person with a life story of a lot of work, a lot of seriousness. […] It was always very easy to meet Chiquinho’s demands, because he was always focused and organized. He got there and asked. If he had to hear a ‘no’, he would prefer a ‘no’ to a bullshit. Everyone should be like this in public life”, said the mayor when inaugurating Chiquinho.

The appointment took place before the disclosure of Ronnie Lessa’s accusation. However, since 2018 there have been suspicions about the involvement of Domingos Brazão, leader of the political group, in the case. People linked to the counselor were accused of trying to hinder the investigations with a false witness.

The deputy left the secretary in February, a week after Lessa’s agreement was announced. However, as the Sheet showed, a survey by the office of councilor Pedro Duarte (Novo) showed that the secretariat maintained 15 people appointed during Chiquinho’s administration.

Ten days before being arrested, Domingos, leader of the political group, told Sheet that the maintenance of the influence of his political group showed the confidence of his allies in Rio de Janeiro. “Those who live in Rio de Janeiro politics don’t give credence to these suspicions. This even comforts us. Nothing is more powerful than the truth.”

According to the PF, Chiquinho’s work in the City Council was aimed at facilitating the regularization of land and irregular constructions in his electoral base. A disagreement with Marielle over one of the bills with this objective would have been one of the reasons for the crime, although the councilor acted discreetly in the debates on the proposal.

Suspicions about Lucinha also indirectly affected Paes. She is a strong ally of the mayor and appointed her son, Junior da Lucinha, as municipal secretary for Healthy Aging.

Federal Police investigations pointed to the deputy acting in favor of militia members in establishing rules for the circulation of vans in the west zone.

The PF even cites a meeting of van drivers with Paes organized with Lucinha in his electoral base. According to investigations, the structure for the meeting was provided by militiamen.

According to the police, the deputy worked in favor of the criminal group commanded by Luis Antônio da Silva Braga, known as Zinho, responsible for the attacks on buses and trains in the west zone of Rio in October. The militia dominates much of the region.

She was removed from her mandate by the courts, but the deputies suspended the effects of the decision and decided to subject her to a disciplinary process at the Ethics Council.

In a speech to deputies, Lucinha denied involvement with militiamen. “I’ve never had any involvement with any criminal organization. I’ve never been part of a militia, as people say.”

She also made reference in her speech to the meeting she held between the mayor and van drivers. For the police, the deputy acted to maintain a rule that benefited the militia in the region.

“Regularized alternative transport also generates jobs and guarantees the livelihood of thousands of families. I will not admit that agendas defended by my mandate, in an honest and transparent way, are criminalized.”