The murder of Brazilian politician Marielle Franco caused an international stir in 2018. But so far the investigation has made little progress. Now there are arrests. Politics and the police seem to be entangled.
“Murder Inc.” was the name of the operation that started at dawn on Sunday in Rio de Janeiro. Three people were arrested. They are said to be the masterminds behind the murder of left-wing city councilor Marielle Franco. On March 14, 2018, the popular politician and her driver were killed. The case caused international outrage. The relatives have been waiting for justice for six years.
“Today is a historic day for Brazilian democracy,” Franco’s sister Anielle wrote on Platform X. She is minister for ethnic equality in the government of left-wing President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva. Monica Benicio, the widow of the murdered city councilor, appeared before the press:
“Without a doubt, today is an important step for democracy and for all of Brazil. But it is also the beginning of a new fight. We want everyone to be held accountable, everyone to be identified so that we can achieve justice for Marielle and Anderson .”
Police and politicians allegedly involved in murder
One of the suspects is the then head of Rio’s civil police, Rivaldo Barbosa. In 2018, he promised Franco’s relatives that he would solve the case. The other two suspected backers were Chiquinho Brazão, a member of the National Congress, and his brother Domingos, a member of the Audit Office of the State of Rio de Janeiro.
The revelation that Rios’ former police chief was involved in what was probably the city’s most famous crime came as a surprise to family members. Unfortunately, it tells a lot about politics in Rio de Janeiro and the involvement of the police with the underworld, says Benicio.
“We now understand that the civil police were not only negligent. It was not just because of a ‘failure’ that we were in pain for six years. But above all because the whole time they wanted to solve the case, they were like accomplices were complicit,” Benicio explained.
Monica Benicio, Marielle Franco’s widow, gives an interview to the press after the arrests.
Deal led to arrests
Marielle Franco was shot in her car on March 14, 2018. The then 38-year-old Afro-Brazilian was considered a beacon of hope for the Brazilian left. As a city councilor for the Partido Socialismo e Liberdade (PSOL), she campaigned for the residents of the favelas, the slums of Rio, from 2017 onwards. She also spoke out against police violence.
A former police officer was arrested as a suspected shooter but has not yet been brought to justice. In January he made a deal with the authorities – his statements are said to have led to the arrests. According to their lawyers, the accused denied any responsibility.
“In my opinion, this represents a significant triumph of the Brazilian state against organized crime,” Justice Minister Ricardo Lewandowski said at a news conference in Brasilia.
Chiquinho Brazao arrives at the airport in Brasilia after his arrest
He said investigations had revealed that one of the suspects – deputy Brazão – was particularly angry about a bill proposed by Franco that would regulate land for the construction of social housing in Rio. The Brazão brothers – who built their political career in militia-dominated western Rio – have long been accused of being involved in organized crime. They deny that.
Vote in the House of Commons
Brazil’s lower house will soon vote on whether to uphold the arrest of MP Chiquinho Brazão, a supporter of former President Jair Bolsonaro. A simple majority could release him as the investigation continues.
Anne Herrberg, ARD Rio de Janeiro, tagesschau, March 25, 2024 10:30 a.m