Republicans would receive Coat of Arms and are now silent about arrest – 03/26/2024 – Power

The Republicans, the party of the governor of São Paulo, Tarcísio de Freitas, have avoided commenting for two days on the arrest of federal deputy Chiquinho Brazão on suspicion of ordering the murder of councilor Marielle Franco.

Brazão was affiliated with União Brasil, but since the end of last year he had already commanded the Republicans in the capital of Rio de Janeiro, where he would transfer in the current party window.

According to Rio de Janeiro City Hall, he was even appointed by the party in October last year to head the Community Action Secretariat. The appointment was the result of the alliance around the pre-candidacy of Mayor Eduardo Paes (PSD) for re-election.

The Republicanos-RJ press office, appointed by the national directory to comment on the case, simply stated that the deputy “is not affiliated with the Republicans”.

The acronym is led in the state by the mayor of Belford Roxo, Waguinho Carneiro, who did not return the calls and messages sent. He is one of President Lula’s (PT) main allies in the state.

Chiquinho Brazão and his brother Domingos Brazão, advisor to the TCE (State Audit Court), were arrested this Sunday (24) suspected of being the masterminds of the crime, committed six years ago. They deny having participated in the murder.

The determination by Minister Alexandre de Moraes, of the STF (Supreme Federal Court), was based on the plea bargain of former military police officer Ronnie Lessa, arrested in 2019 on charges of being the perpetrator of the crime.

Chiquinho was still affiliated with the Union, but was no longer active in the party he was leaving. Even so, the party’s national executive decided to expel the parliamentarian. The secretary general of União Brasil, ACM Neto, said that the expulsion is a “symbolic and emblematic political act”.

The deputy had already asked the TSE (Superior Electoral Court) a year ago for authorization to disaffiliate from the party, with Waguinho’s political group, which included deputy Daniela Carneiro, former Minister of Tourism.