Lula confronts Flávio over Ana Clara's death and ties to militia members in Globo debate
The president demanded explanations regarding the defense of a military police officer and recalled the hiring of Adriano da Nóbrega's relatives in the opponent's office.
President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva (PT) confronted Flávio Bolsonaro (PL) during the TV Globo debate this Friday (23), questioning his opponent's actions in defending a military police officer accused of killing 5-year-old Ana Clara with a rifle shot.
"Flávio, tell me why you defended the military police officer who killed 5-year-old Ana Clara with a rifle shot," Lula asked.
The president also criticized Flávio's rhetoric on public security and demanded explanations regarding his role as the officer's lawyer.
"What territory is this? The territory of the bullet? Explain what happened. Why did you defend Ana Clara's killer?" he asked.
In response, Flávio Bolsonaro attempted to associate Lula with the defense of criminals. The president then returned to the questioning regarding his opponent's relationships with individuals identified as members of Rio de Janeiro militias.
"You employed a militia member's mother in your office. The militia member's wife. Explain that," stated Lula.
Subsequently, the PT candidate mentioned people present at the debate who, according to him, are familiar with Flávio's political trajectory in Rio de Janeiro.
"But the people of Rio de Janeiro know you. Ana Clara's mother is here and knows you. Marielle Franco's mother is also here and knows you. Marcelo Freixo is here and knows you too," he declared.
Flávio Bolsonaro's ties to Adriano da Nóbrega
Lula's accusations refer to the history of Flávio Bolsonaro's ties to Adriano Magalhães da Nóbrega, a former captain of the Special Police Operations Battalion (Bope) identified by the Rio de Janeiro Public Prosecutor's Office as a member of a militia and head of the "Crime Office," an extermination group associated with contract killers.
Adriano died in February 2020 during a police operation in Bahia, after spending more than a year as a fugitive.
The relationship between Flávio and the former police officer dates back to the period when the PL candidate served as a state deputy in the Legislative Assembly of Rio de Janeiro (Alerj).
In 2003, Flávio presented a motion of praise for Adriano. Two years later, he proposed granting the Tiradentes Medal, one of Alerj's main honors, to the then-military police officer.
The tribute was granted in 2005, when Adriano was in preventive detention accused of involvement in the murder of a parking attendant.
