Federal Deputy Reveals Death Threats and Attacks Rio Governor’s “Silence”

By Arkady Petrov

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – Federal Deputy Talíria Petrone (PSOL) from Rio de Janeiro has again been the victim of death threats. In April of this year, the Federal Police obtained information from conversations recorded on the so-called “dark web”, according to which a attempt against the deputy has been planned since 2018.

She has subsequently been escorted by Legislative Police officers everywhere she goes in Brasília.

Given the severity of the threats, the Federal Police reported the case to the Chamber President, Rodrigo Maia, who sent a letter to the governor of Rio, Wilson Witzel, requesting 24-hour protection and escort for the deputy when she is in Rio.

According to Talíria’s advisory, Maia’s first letter was sent on April, 23rd. “Faced with the governor’s silence, the Chamber President sent a new letter, repeating the request, on May 10th. PSOL Party also sent a letter to the governor asking him to handle the matter. However, so far, there is no reply to the request,” she said in an official note released on Thursday, June 27th.

The case has so far been handled in secrecy, as suggested by security agencies. “But, due to the government’s total lack of commitment to the safety of a federal deputy, we decided to go public to seek a public solution,” said the deputy’s advisors.

The state government has not yet taken a position on the matter.

Talíria had previously suffered death threats in 2018, when she was a city councilor in Niterói, in the metropolitan region of Rio. The threats came to light after the murder of Councillor Marielle Franco, who was a personal friend of Talíria and a party colleague.

Petrone is the daughter of a musician and a teacher. She graduated with a bachelor’s degree in history from the Rio de Janeiro State University and has a master’s degree in social work from Fluminense Federal University.

Prior to entering politics, she worked as a public school teacher. She identifies as an Afro-Brazilian, socialist, feminist, and supporter of LGBT rights.

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