Lula pulls dozens of police chiefs in “de-Bolsonarization” effort

Highway police marshals. Photo: Fabio Rodrigues Pozzebom/ABr

The Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva administration on Wednesday fired the heads of the Federal Highway Police (PRF) in 26 of the 27 Brazilian states and changed the superintendents of the Federal Police in 18 states.

The move comes as earlier this week the government dismissed 55 military service members and one police officer from positions related to presidential security.

A week and a half ago, far-right radicals stormed the headquarters of all three branches of government in Brasília, laying bare serious security failings. Lula told reporters that he has “lost trust” in the military, and that “there were a lot” of police and military officers “conniving” with the rioters.

Security experts have warned of the politicization of police forces in Brazil — a phenomenon that pre-dates the Jair Bolsonaro administration (2019-2022) but became more intense during it.

Silvinei Vasques, who served as the PRF head under Mr. Bolsonaro, will face trial for malfeasance. He was accused of using his office to promote Mr. Bolsonaro’s failed re-election bid — and retired last month at the age of 47.

On October 29, the day before the runoff election, Mr. Vasques used his Instagram account to request votes for Mr. Bolsonaro. He later deleted the post. Then, on Election Day, the PRF defied a court order against routine road inspections that would affect public transportation. The force instead conducted an unusually large number of operations, most notably in Lula-leaning states. The Lula campaign at the time accused the government of voter suppression.

On the same day he took office, Lula created a new security detail, led by a Federal Police marshal, removing the monopoly of presidential security from the Institutional Security Office (GSI), currently led by a retired Army general appointed by Lula.