President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva asked on Saturday (23) that Rio de Janeiro's interim governor, Ricardo Couto de Castro, work to arrest "deputies who are part of an organized militia" during his time in office. The statement was made during the inauguration of the Fiocruz Health Technology Development Center in the state capital. ✓
Press quotes (1)
"O presidente Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva pediu neste sábado (23) que o governador do Rio de Janeiro, Ricardo Couto, trabalhe para prender "ladrões e milicianos" que, segundo ele, comandaram o estado ao longo dos últimos anos... "Trabalhe para prender todos os ladrões que governaram esse estado. E deputados que fazem parte de uma milícia organizada.""
"Work to arrest all the thieves who governed this state. And deputies who are part of an organized militia," Lula said, addressing the interim governor directly. The president also said that Couto, president of Rio's Court of Justice, "didn't need to ask for votes" and has the opportunity to "do what many people didn't do in 10 years in this state." ≈
Press quotes (1)
""Você [Ricardo Couto], que não precisou pedir voto. Eu nunca tinha te visto, mas, quando começou esse processo de votação na Assembleia Legislativa, eu falei: 'se a Assembleia indicar, vai vir o mesmo'. Ia vir um miliciano. Então, aproveite estes seis meses que você tem, faça o que muita gente não fez em 10 anos neste estado""
The president criticized the attempted indirect election in the Legislative Assembly to define Castro's successor, saying that "a militia member would come." Lula emphasized that "it's not possible for this powerful, beautiful state to be governed by a militia member" and asked Couto to take advantage of the "six months" he has in office until the October elections.
Press quotes (1)
"Control of Guanabara Palace then passed to Ricardo Couto de Castro, then-President of the Court of Justice of Rio de Janeiro... On 23 March 2026, Governor Cláudio Castro resigned from office... The following day, on 24 March 2026, the TSE convicted Castro and Thiago Pampolha by a 5–2 vote, imposing an eight-year ban from holding public office on both."
Lula made the statements during the inauguration of the Fiocruz Health Technology Development Center on Saturday, May 23, 2026
Lula guaranteed federal support to the interim governor and defended approval of the Public Security Constitutional Amendment
Covered by only some sources, or where the accounts diverge.
Covered by only some sources (1)
The Fiocruz Health Technology Development Center received investments of R$ 370 million in construction and R$ 35 million in equipment
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Which specific deputies does Lula consider linked to organized militias?
Why it's still unknown: The president did not name specific deputies in his statement
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What will be the interim governor's concrete response to Lula's statements?
Why it's still unknown: Ricardo Couto has not publicly commented on the presidential request as of coverage time
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How does the federal government plan to concretely support security actions in RJ?
Why it's still unknown: Lula mentioned federal support but did not detail specific mechanisms beyond the Public Security Constitutional Amendment