Government evaluates summoning Armed Forces to Rio Grande do Norte

Sources at the Planalto Palace and the Ministry of Justice informed the CNN that the government is considering summoning the Armed Forces for an operation to Guarantee Law and Order (GLO) in Rio Grande do Norte.

The state has been suffering for four days from attacks by criminals. At least 45 cities were the target of actions against commerce, public banks and vehicles.

Until tomorrow, the government is evaluating the impact of a wide-ranging police operation carried out this Friday (17) with the execution of search and seizure warrants against members of the criminal faction suspected of leading the attacks.

If the operation is not enough to stop the attacks, chances are real that the Armed Forces will be summoned.

This Friday afternoon (17), Congress President Rodrigo Pacheco (PSD-MG) sent a letter to President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva (PT) asking that the Forces be summoned.

“As President of the Federal Senate and of the National Congress, and taking as reasons for deciding the elements brought by the illustrious Senator of the Republic of the State of Rio Grande do Norte, given the circumstances of the specific case and the urgency of the moment, I formulate the request sending the Armed Forces, in order to guarantee law and order in that federated unit”, says the letter.

If that happens, it will be the first GLO of the Lula government, which considered calling a similar operation during the criminal attacks on January 8th. The government withdrew for fear of a coup d’état sponsored by the Armed Forces.

After the episode, there was a change in command of the Army and today the force’s relationship with Planalto has improved, according to palace interlocutors. This despite the PT having formulated a Constitutional Amendment Proposal (PEC) defending the end of GLOs.