Brazil's president has fired one of his most popular cabinet members, including another high-profile figure, Racial Equality Minister Agnère Franco, following allegations that Silvio Almeida sexually harassed at least two women.
Almeida denied the allegations and Franco thanked President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva for his “decisive action.” But the scandal was a major blow to Lula's government and black rights activists expressed deep disappointment.
Almeida and Franco have been leading voices in the fight against racism in Brazil. Since Lula's government came to power in January 2023, they have also been prime targets of attacks by supporters of far-right former President Jair Bolsonaro.
So statement “After taking into consideration the serious allegations against Minister Silvio Almeida and summoning him for consultations…,” President Lula said in a statement released on Friday night. [I] I decided to fire him.”
The president added that the nature of the sexual harassment allegations made Almeida's retention in his position “unsustainable.”
“The Federal Government reiterates its commitment to respecting human rights and reiterates its zero tolerance for any form of violence against women,” the statement concluded, also reiterating that federal police are investigating the incident.
Franco, the minister of racial equality who entered politics after the 2018 murder of his sister, Marielle Franco, a politician – one of the most shocking and high-profile murders in Rio de Janeiro's history – spoke out for the first time about an hour after Lula announced his decision.
Franco wrote on social media: “It is unacceptable to relativize or minimize incidents of violence,” it said, adding: “It is also inappropriate to pressure victims to speak at a time when they are in pain and vulnerable by blaming, discrediting, coercing or pressuring them, as this only perpetuates the cycle of violence.”
The incident was reported on Thursday by Brazilian news site Metropole Almeida had been reported to Me Too Brasil, an organisation that advocates for victims of sexual violence, for alleged sexual harassment of women, it said.
The report did not give a figure for the number of victims, but claimed that Franco was among them. other Brazilian media. The day before, news site UOL It reported that Almeida had faced allegations of bullying among ministry officials.
Metropoles alleged that Almeida's harassing behaviour towards Franco included “groping his feet”, “inappropriate kissing while greeting him” and “using vulgar language of a sexual nature”.
The allegations are said to have all occurred last year and were reported to other ministers and to Franco's friend, the First Lady, Rosángela da Silva (known as Janja). Despite this, no action appears to have been taken, leading to growing criticism of the government after the allegations were made public.
A few hours after the scandal broke, Janja Posted a photo without a caption She posted a video on social media of her kissing Franco on the forehead, which was widely interpreted as a show of support.
The Minister of Women's Affairs, Aparecida Goncalves, was more blunt: Posted a photo The caption of a photo of her holding hands with Franco reads: “Sending solidarity and support to you, my friend and ministerial colleague, in these difficult times.”
Me Too Brazil issued a statement on Thursday confirming that it had received complaints against Almeida but did not disclose how many or what names they contained. “Victims faced difficulties in obtaining institutional support to substantiate their complaints,” the group said.
Almeida quickly posted a video to social media on Thursday, declaring that he “certainly wants to reject the lies and falsehoods that are being levelled against me.”
He claimed: “It is clear that a very well-orchestrated campaign is being carried out to tarnish my image as a black man, as a human rights defender and as a prominent public official.”
During his term, Almeida used the ministry's official social media accounts to Me Too attacks BrazilHe argued that the organisation's methods often include “anonymous, unsubstantiated and unfounded accusations”.
Almeida, a prominent academic and best-selling author who popularized the concept of “structural racism” in Brazil, entered politics just two years ago when President Lula invited him to become human rights minister.
During his time in office, he was praised by some on the left as one of the few ministers who succeeded in returning Lula's Workers' Party (PT) to its progressive roots.
In March, when Brazil marked the 60th anniversary of the start of a brutal 20-year dictatorship, Almeida was a lone voice calling for memorials to be held to remember the thousands of people killed, disappeared or tortured under the regime from 1964 to 1985. President Lula banned such commemorations, likely to avoid antagonizing the military.
Since the allegations against Almeida emerged, members of many black rights organizations have expressed their deep disappointment. The Black Rights Coalition, a coalition of around 300 black movements and organizations, issued a “statement of solidarity with Minister Anielle Franco and other female victims” with the hashtag #AnielleNãoEstáSó (Anielle is not alone).
The statement, without naming Almeida, called for “a thorough investigation of the facts and due accountability for those convicted and those who failed to act on these extremely serious charges.”
Since Thursday, Bolsonaro's supporters and allies have been hailing the case as an example of left-wing hypocrisy and even joking about the harassment allegations. One far-right leader, Congressman Nicolas Ferreira, said: X“Love Government” now banned in Brazil [as Lula has described his administration] “I love you a little too much”
