Surrounding Paes fears the impact of waves of attacks in Rio in the 2024 election

One year before the election, interlocutors of the mayor of Rio, Eduardo Paes (PSD), told CNN that the wave of violence in the capital of Rio de Janeiro has generated concern.

Paes will seek re-election next year and sees the city surrounded by a climate of insecurity, which could leave Rio’s image damaged, with negative impacts on tourism and the economy.

With less than a year to go before the municipal elections, the city hall’s efforts, however, are aimed at making the city functional, despite all the problems, and acting quickly to contain possible crises.

In a conversation with journalists, Paes said, on Wednesday (25), that public safety is not the responsibility of the city hall, but rather the responsibility of the state government. “We need to understand that the situation in Rio is very serious. We cannot minimize what is happening. It is not an isolated fact”

Last Monday (23), 35 buses, four trucks and a train were set on fire following the death of a militia member’s nephew. At the beginning of the month, violence in the capital of Rio de Janeiro had already gained national prominence with the execution of three doctors in a kiosk — they had been mistaken by criminals for militiamen.

It’s not just the mayor of Rio who is thinking about next year’s election. Governor Cláudio Castro (PL) has been under pressure from the Rio de Janeiro bench in the Chamber of Deputies.

The parliamentarians, according to a report by the CNN in Brasília Gabriela Prado, they want Castro to present a public security plan for the state. The idea is to compose the document and present suggestions so that the bench can show the electorate that parliament’s collaboration can go beyond the allocation of budget amendments.

In the state government, there are also concerns about security. A CNN , the state secretary of Tourism, Gustavo Tutuca, said that the violence undermines Rio’s tourism promotion work, both in Brazil and around the world. “As important as safety itself is the feeling of security. But we can’t stop.”

Now both Paes and the Castro government agree that there should be no federal intervention in the capital. But the mayor said he believes that security forces acting only within the limits of Rio de Janeiro, as proposed by Castro, is not enough.

“I do not advocate intervention. I don’t think it’s necessary, but I think we need federal forces, especially the Federal Police, taking a leading role in public security policy in Rio de Janeiro”, said the mayor.