The Minister of Communications, Juscelino Filho, is going to meet with President Lula this Monday (6).| Photo: Zeca Ribeiro/Chamber of Deputies.

The president Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva (PT) will meet with the Minister of Communications, Juscelino Filho, this Monday afternoon (6), at 4 pm, amid complaints of alleged irregular use of Brazilian Air Force (FAB) flights and daily rates paid by the Union to personal commitments amidst the official government agenda.

Lula has been asked to take a position on the allegations revealed last week, and said that he “guarantees the presumption of innocence to everyone”, but that Juscelino “cannot remain in government” if he “cannot prove his innocence”.

The allegations that the minister used FAB flights to accompany commitments such as a horse auction and consultancy for horse buyers generated a crisis between the government and União Brasil. This Sunday (5), through social networks, the party asked the PT to give Juscelino the same treatment given to other PT members.

In a note signed by party leaders Elmar Nascimento (BA), in the Chamber, and Efraim Filho (PB), in the Senate, the party’s parliamentarians condemned “attacks” by Gleisi Hoffmann (PT) against the minister, who “always maintained a role respected” in Congress. For them, the deputy uses “two weights and two measures” when evoking the right of defense for recurrent accusations against PT allies.