Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva on Friday fired his human rights minister, Silvio Almeida, after allegations he had sexually harassed several women, including a cabinet colleague.
The scandal, which has sparked outrage in Brazil, is the first of its kind involving a member of Lula’s government since the veteran leftist came to power last year.
“Given the serious accusations against Minister Silvio Almeida and after he was summoned for an interview… President Lula has decided to dismiss the head of the Ministry of Human Rights and Citizenship,” the presidency said in a statement.
“The President considers the possibility of the Minister remaining in office untenable given the nature of the allegations,” the statement said.
The news site Metropoles reported on Thursday that women’s association Me Too Brasil had received complaints against Almeida from several women, including Minister for Racial Equality Anielle Franco.
Me Too Brasil confirmed the report and said the women in question had received “psychological and legal support.”
Federal police said Friday they would investigate the claims.
The presidential ethics commission said it too had launched an investigation into the allegations.
Almeida, a 48-year-old lawyer and professor who is considered one of Brazil’s leading intellectuals, dismissed the accusations as “lies” aimed at tarnishing the image of “a black man who holds a prominent position in public office.”
Anielle Franco, 40, is also black. She has not publicly commented on the revelations.
She is the sister of Marielle Franco, a city councilor and human rights activist in Rio de Janeiro, who was murdered in 2018. The crime sparked outrage worldwide.
– ‘Cannot remain in government’ –
Before the meeting with Almeida on Friday, Lula issued a stern warning about possible cases of sexual harassment within his team.
“What I can say is that anyone who is guilty of intimidation cannot remain in government,” he told Brazilian radio station Difusora Goiania, stressing Almeida’s right to the presumption of innocence.
On Thursday, the government acknowledged the “seriousness” of the allegations against the minister and promised that they would be dealt with “with the severity and speed that situations of possible violence against women require”.
Almedia’s wife, Edneia Carvalho, with whom he has a one-year-old daughter, called the accusations against the minister “unfair” and “absurd” on Instagram.
While this is the first scandal involving alleged sexual misconduct by a member of Lula’s government, it is not the first time one of his ministers has been accused of a crime.
In June, the federal police recommended charging Communications Minister Juscelino Filho with corruption and collaborating with criminals.
Filho denies the allegations and has so far kept his job.
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