Rio 2016 Olympics first priority: Raul Jungmann Brazil’s new defense minister

Brazil’s new defense minister today clearly said that Rio de Janerio Olympics are his first priority.

Raul Jungmann was appointed by interim president Michel Temer, who replaced suspended President Dilma Rousseff. Rousseff is suspended for 180 days while her impeachment trial is presided over by the federal senate in Brasilia.

Raul was quoted saying that his first priority is Rio de Janeiro. He said that “There are only a few weeks to go and we have a strategic role in the making of the Olympic Games.” He added that he will take all possible measures to prove that Brazil is peaceful country.

Rio 2016 Olympics

Rio is a crime-filled city and Brazil will deploy about 85,000 soldiers and police during the games, a force reported to be twice as large as London used four years ago.

In a recent study, Brazil had 21 cities on a list of the world’s 50 most dangerous cities. The state of Rio de Janeiro is expected to supply about 65,000 police for security, although a recent cut of $550 million 20 percent from the state security budget is raising fears about meeting that goal.