Deputy Douglas Ruas (PL) rejected claims by President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva (PT) that the Rio de Janeiro Legislative Assembly would appoint a militiaman as governor.
The dispute highlights the deep friction between the federal government and Rio de Janeiro's state leadership regarding public security and the influence of paramilitary groups.
President Lula made the original remark on Friday, May 22, 2026 [1], during an event at Fiocruz in Rio de Janeiro. He said, "Se a ALERJ escolhesse o novo governador, escolheriam um miliciano," or "If ALERJ chose the new governor, they would choose a militiaman" [2].
The Rio de Janeiro Legislative Assembly, known as ALERJ, issued an official response on Saturday, May 23, 2026 [3], demanding respect for the parliamentary body. Deputy Ruas followed this with a more direct public rebuke reported on May 24, 2026 [4].
Speaking at a press gathering with the interim governor of Rio, Ruas said that the president does not have the moral authority to give lessons on combating crime [5]. Ruas defended the reputation of the Assembly and criticized the current political climate in the state.
Ruas also targeted other political figures during the exchange. He said that Rio does not want "velha política," or old politics [4].
The tension arises from Lula's suggestion that the legislative body is so compromised by militia influence that its selection process for a governor would be skewed toward criminal elements [6]. Ruas and ALERJ officials have characterized these comments as an attack on the democratic legitimacy of the state's parliament.
“"The president does not have moral authority to give a lesson on fighting crime."”
This confrontation underscores the volatile relationship between the Lula administration and the Rio de Janeiro state government. By associating the state legislature with militias—paramilitary groups often composed of former police officers—the president is signaling a lack of trust in the region's institutional integrity. Conversely, the sharp response from Ruas suggests that state officials view federal criticism as a political tool rather than a genuine security strategy, potentially complicating future coordination on public safety initiatives in one of Brazil's most violent states.
