Brazil on the brink: 130 dead in police operation spark political crisis months before elections

The situation in Brazil has become critical following a massive police operation in Rio de Janeiro's favelas, where more than 2,500 officers confronted the Red Command, the country's largest criminal organization. The result was one of the bloodiest days in the city's recent history, with more than 130 dead.

🔥 Keys to the conflict

• The epicenter of the crisis was in two favelas dominated by drug trafficking, where a confrontation of warlike proportions broke out. Urban violence exposed the fragility of the security system and the increasing militarization of state forces.
• Immediate political repercussions: The state government in Rio, aligned with Bolsonarism, accused the federal government of inaction and of having left Rio "alone" in the fight against organized crime.
• President Lula da Silva's response: The president denied the accusations and sent a mission to dialogue with Governor Carlos Castro (Liberal Party), seeking to agree on security measures. Among the options is the application of a Law and Order Guarantee (GLO), which would imply the militarization of key sectors of the city.

🗳️ Impact on the presidential campaign

• A year before the elections, the crisis has placed the issue of public security at the center of the political debate. The tragedy threatens to affect the presidential race of Lula da Silva, who is seeking re-election.
• The Bolsonarist right has capitalized on the moment to reinforce its heavy-handed discourse, while the federal government tries to balance the response without deepening militarization.

🌍 Broader context

• This episode reflects a deep institutional crisis in Brazil, where the fight against organized crime has become an urban war. The political polarization between the federal government and the states governed by the right further complicates the coordination of security policies.
• The situation has generated international alarm and has put Brazil's borders on high alert, given the risk of violence spreading to other regions.

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