Lula defends Andrei Rodrigues after STF decision on removal from PF

President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva (PT) — Photo: Ricardo Stuckert

President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva (PT) came out in defense of the director general of the Federal Police (PF), Andrei Rodrigues, in an interview with SBT this Thursday (10).

According to Mendonça, the PF leadership promoted illegal monitoring and "arapongage" against himself and against the Union's attorney general, Jorge Messias, by producing intelligence reports that later supported measures taken by minister Alexandre de Moraes.

Mendonça requested that the Second Panel of the STF analyze the decision in a virtual session. The collegiate formed a majority of three votes to maintain the removals, but the trial was interrupted after a request for a review from Gilmar Mendes.

On Wednesday (9), minister Flávio Dino reversed Andrei's removal in another decision. The decision responded to a request made by the director general of the PF.

"Andrei is a very competent federal police officer, he has over 30 years of experience, he is the companion who possibly carried out the biggest search and seizure in the history of organized crime in this country. He is the companion who supervised Banco Master, which arrested Vorcaro [Daniel Vorcaro]", stated President Lula.

According to the president, Andrei is uncomfortable "because the Federal Police has never worked so hard."

"He is an employee of the Brazilian state and, therefore, we have responsibility for him. He did an extraordinary job. In fact, I think he bothers a lot of people because the Federal Police have never worked so hard, never arrested so much, never recovered so much money and so much drugs during Andrei's mandate. That's why I want to say loud and clear that Andrei is my complete trust, he's a companion, you know, an expert, like few delegates in the history of this country."

In the decision, Fachin said that Andrei could provide information within 48 hours. After this period, the president of the STF will decide whether he will remain in office.