After a storm of Bolsonaro supporters: Lula’s security chief leaves the chair

The head of security in President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva’s government resigned after the release of compromising video footage related to Brazil’s riots earlier this year. The press service of the Brazilian government announced this on Twitter on Wednesday (local time).

The television channel “CNN Brasil” previously showed images of the then head of security, General Marco Edson Gonçalves Dias, opening the doors and the way for supporters of the right-wing head of state Jair Bolsonaro, who had just been replaced by Lula, in the aisles of the “Palácio do Planalto” in Brasília points.

Gonçalves Dias dismissed the allegations on Brazilian broadcaster “TV Globo”, saying the photos were taken out of context. On January 8, radical supporters of Bolsonaro stormed the Congress, the “Palácio do Planalto” seat of government and the Supreme Court in Brasília, causing significant damage. President Lula accused parts of the police and army of collaborating with the attackers.

According to the Brazilian government, Ricardo Cappelli will succeed Gonçalves Dias as head of the Cabinet for Institutional Security (GSI) on an interim basis. The GSI is also responsible for the security of the president in Latin America’s largest country. (sda/dpa)