Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva has dismissed Minister of Human Rights and Citizenship, Silvio Almeida, following serious allegations of sexual harassment. The decision was made on September 6, 2024, after a meeting at the Palácio do Planalto, where Lula deemed it ‘untenable’ for Almeida to remain in his position given the nature of the accusations.Multiple women, including Minister of Racial Equality Anielle Franco, have accused Almeida of sexual misconduct. According to a report by Metrópoles, one alleged incident with Franco occurred in May 2023 during an official meeting on combating racism, where Almeida allegedly made inappropriate physical contact.Almeida has vehemently denied the allegations, calling them ‘lies’ and part of a smear campaign against him as ‘a Black man in a prominent position in government’. He stated, ‘I repudiate these accusations with the force of love and respect I have for my wife and my 1-year-old daughter, in the midst of the daily struggle I wage in favor of human rights and citizenship in this country’.The organization Me Too Brasil confirmed receiving complaints against Almeida and provided psychological and legal support to the victims. They noted that victims often face difficulties in obtaining institutional support when the alleged aggressor holds a position of power.President Lula has reiterated his government’s commitment to human rights and women’s rights, stating, ‘No one who commits harassment will remain in government’. The case is now under investigation by various government bodies, including the Federal Police, the Public Ethics Commission of the Presidency, the Controladoria-Geral da União, and the Procuradoria-Geral da República.This dismissal marks the sixth ministerial change in Lula’s current term, which began in January 2023. The case has sparked heated debate in political circles, with some calling for a thorough investigation while others defend Almeida.
Key points
- Brazilian President Lula has dismissed Human Rights Minister Silvio Almeida over sexual harassment allegations.
- Multiple women, including Minister of Racial Equality Anielle Franco, have accused Almeida of sexual misconduct.
- Almeida denies the allegations, calling them ‘lies’ and part of a smear campaign.
- The case is under investigation by various government bodies, including the Federal Police and the Public Ethics Commission.
Contradictions👾While most sources report multiple women accusing Almeida, including Minister Anielle Franco, some reports specifically mention 14 women, which is not consistently reported across all sources.
