Brazil: Lula Fires Minister Accused of Sexual Harassment
Facts
- Brazilian Pres. Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva on Friday sacked his Human Rights Minister Silvio Almeida over allegations of sexual misconduct.[1][2]
- A leading Black activist in Brazil, Almeida faces accusations of sexually harassing at least two women, including the Minister for Racial Equality Anielle Franco.[3][4]
- Almeida was fired after the women's association — Me Too Brazil — claimed to have received complaints from over a dozen people, including high-profile officials.[5][2]
- All such episodes reportedly took place in 2023, and the matter was reportedly known to several ministers, but Franco is said to have chosen to remain silent so as not to harm the government.[5][6]
- Isabel Rodrigues, a professor and a city councilor candidate in a municipality of São Paulo state, also alleged that Almeida had sexually assaulted her in 2019.[7][8]
- Almeida claims to be the victim of a 'campaign to damage [his] image,' and has said he resigned to prove his innocence. The Presidential Ethics Commission has also launched an investigation into the allegations.[3][2][9]
Sources: [1]Bloomberg, [2]France 24, [3]Guardian, [4]Reuters, [5]The Gateway Pundit, [6]Folha de S.Paulo, [7]Associated Press, [8]Dw.Com and [9]The Brazilian Report.
Narratives
- Narrative A, as provided by Brazil Reports. Almeida should have been removed from office as soon as Franco internally reported the case months ago. This would have allowed him to defend himself properly and avoid this bombshell scandal for the Brazilian government. It's hard to understand why it took so long for action to be taken, but now Almeida is finally out.
- Narrative B, as provided by The Rio Times. Given that rumors of sexual misconduct against Almeida had been circulating for a year or so, one can only cast doubt on what lies behind recycled reports that caused his swift dismissal. The Me Too movement has been misused for political or personal gains in the past — that could be the case yet again.