Work to arrest those who stole RJ, says Lula to interim governor
On the agenda in Rio de Janeiro this Saturday (23), President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva (PT) praised the interim governor, judge Ricardo Couto, and asked him to "work to arrest all the thieves who governed this state".
The Chief Executive participated in the inauguration of new facilities at the Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, which turns 126 years old next Monday (25), and the delivery of 42 vehicles from the Agora Tem Especialistas Program.
During his speech at the event, Lula asked Ricardo Couto - who made a rare public appearance, including a brief statement - to stand by his side. Discreetly, the interim governor left the group of authorities who were attending the appointment behind the pulpit and remained silent in the president's company.
"No one is expecting you to build a viaduct, a bridge, an artificial beach. People expect you to work to arrest all the thieves who governed this state, who are part of an organized militia," said Lula. "It is not possible to hear that organized crime has taken over the territories. Let's together return them to the people of Rio de Janeiro", he continued.
Couto took over the Guanabara Palace in March, with the departure of Cláudio Castro (PL). The inauguration took place amidst the analysis by the TSE (Superior Electoral Court) of actions that made the former governor ineligible for eight years for abuse of political and economic power in the 2022 elections.
"Often, the governor is held hostage by the police and never frees himself. You, who didn't need to ask for a vote, were nominated. If the [Legislative] Assembly had to nominate, a militia member would come," Lula added. "Take advantage, these things happen because there is God. Take advantage and do what many people haven't done in ten years: help fix this state. That's what the people expect from you", he concluded.
Since arriving at the Rio de Janeiro Executive, Couto has ordered a series of dismissals, mainly concentrated in the Government and Civil House secretariats. The objective is to go through a "fine-toothed comb" over contracts, services and salary sheets from the previous management.
This was Lula's sixth visit to Rio de Janeiro this year. As CNN Brasil showed, the president seeks to expand his presence in the territory of Rio de Janeiro, the electoral stronghold of his main opponent in the dispute for Palácio do Planalto, senator Flávio Bolsonaro (PL).
Also present on today's agenda were the first lady, Janja da Silva, the mayor of Rio, Eduardo Cavaliere (PSD), the Minister of Health, Alexandre Padilha, and parliamentarians from the government base.
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(With information from Duda Cambraia, from CNN Brasil, in Brasília)
Source: CNN