Bolsonaro’s Interference Could Discredit Federal Police, say Police Chiefs

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – President Jair Bolsonaro‘s statement that he may interfere in the selection of the Chief of the Federal Police (PF) in Rio de Janeiro prompted criticism that this precedent would represent a risk of external interference in police work.

Edvandir Felix de Paiva, president of the ADPF (National Association of Federal Police Chiefs), said the president’s influence should be limited to choosing the director-general of the PF, the institution’s highest position, and the director-general should be free to form his team.

According to Paiva, this is a prerequisite for the PF to maintain its independence and not be under suspicion of political interference in its investigations.

On Thursday, August 15th, Bolsonaro announced in an interview that the PF commander in Rio would be replaced. The president mentioned issues related to “management and productivity” among the reasons for the substituted, but was rebutted by an official note from the Federal Police denying any problems in the command’s performance.

The Federal Police Superintendent in Rio is currently Ricardo Saadi. Chief of Police Carlos Henrique Oliveira Sousa, currently Regional Superintendent in Pernambuco, is the name chosen by Maurício Valeixo, director general of the Federal Police, to replace Saadi in Rio.

Valeixo’s choice for the position was announced in an official note by the Federal Police after Bolsonaro commented on the change in Rio’s police structure. After the PF had publicly named the person chosen for the post, Bolsonaro stated in a new interview on Friday, August 16th, that the nominee would be the current PF superintendent in the state of Amazonas, Alexandre Silva Saraiva, and completed his statement by saying “I’m the one in charge.”

“If he (without making it clear who) decided to change, he will need to talk to me. I’m the one in charge, and I’ll make this very clear. I give freedom to all ministers, but I am in charge. By what is prearranged, it would be the [superintendent] of Manaus,” said the president on Friday morning, when leaving the Palácio da Alvorada.

Bolsonaro did not clarify whether he was referring to Valeixo or the Minister of Justice, the ultimate authority of the Federal Police.

On Friday, the president softened his speech by stating that “it doesn’t matter to me,” he said. “I suggested the one in Manaus, but there’s no problem if it’s the one from Pernambuco,” said Bolsonaro.

After the president’s backtrack, the Federal Police confirmed director-general  Maurício Valeixo’s choice for the position in Rio. The exchange has not yet been officially announced, but the appointment of delegate Carlos Henrique Oliveira Sousa is maintained.