Pimenta denies government influence in PF action against Lira’s allies – 02/06/2023 – Politics

Minister Paulo Pimenta (Secretary of Social Communication of the Presidency) ruled out this Friday (2) any possibility of government involvement in the Federal Police operation against allies of the President of the Chamber of Deputies, Arthur Lira (PP-AL).

Pimenta stated that the Federal Police only complies with the determinations of the Judiciary and that it does not have any influence on the decisions of that sphere.

On Thursday (1st), the Federal Police carried out arrest and search and seizure procedures in an investigation into deviations in contracts for the purchase of robotics kits with money from the FNDE (National Fund for the Development of Education).

The case originated from a report by the Sheet published in April last year on acquisitions in municipalities of Alagoas, all signed with the same company belonging to allies of Lira.

During the searches, at an address in Maceió linked to an investigated civil police officer, the PF found at least R$ 4.4 million in a safe overcrowded with cash.

On the same day, Lira spoke with the Minister of Justice, Flávio Dino (PSB), to find out more details about the operation. According to reports, Lira wanted to know the circumstances of the action and whether it was related to political events.

Lira’s allies point out that the operation was a retaliation by the federal government, after recent clashes over the discussion of the provisional measure that restructured the Esplanada dos Ministérios. Despite being approved by the two legislative Houses, there were many obstacles in the Chamber, with Lira himself openly criticizing the government and political articulation.

Pimenta ruled out any kind of relationship between the two facts, arguing that the PF only complied with the court’s decision.

“With regard to yesterday’s episode, the important thing is to make it clear that it is a matter that is within the scope of the judiciary, that the Federal Police, in reality, is only the arm that executes the determination of the judiciary, which effectively does not exist any possibility of control, monitoring or influence by the Executive branch in a matter that does not concern this sphere”, said the minister, in an interview with Globonews.

The provisional measure was approved after Lula entered the political articulation, negotiating with Lira himself and with important leaders of the Chamber of Deputies, such as Elmar Nascimento (União Brasil-BA).

Pimenta sought to honor Minister Alexandre Padilha (Institutional Relations), responsible for the negotiation and the target of harsh criticism, including from allies, and said that Lula will only be a “recourse instance” in the political articulation.

“In a first moment, it is natural that you give prestige and value to your interlocutors. It would not make sense from the first moment for President Lula to be the person who will deal there from the beginning of the negotiation, the follow-up. We have the Minister of the Civil House , we have Minister Padilha, we have the leaders of the House and Senate, we have a leader of Congress. It is a way of prestige, and strengthening, of accreditation of these people in this day-to-day dialogue of Congress”, said the minister.

“It’s as if President Lula were an instance of appeal. When this negotiation arrives at moments that require another decision, higher advice, Lula is called. Now we can’t imagine that the president will be him the person responsible for this articulation on a day-to-day basis”, he added.

The head of Secom also said that the allied base is “plural and that it lives contradictions” and that the government is interested in increasing it, to guarantee political stability. However, he added that it is not just an invitation to center benches, like the PP.

“It’s not a question of inviting. It’s establishing a dialogue and, to the extent that we see this identity, it’s something that interests the government.”

Paulo Pimenta also said that the name of the lawyer Cristiano Zanin, nominated by Lula for the open vacancy in the Federal Supreme Court, should be approved with some ease in the Senate. The minister also defended the name presented by the representative and stated that there are no impediments or constraints, as he is a personal friend of the president.

“I think that political proximity, the fact that he was President Lula’s lawyer cannot be something that prevents a professional with the qualities, with the trajectory, with the public spirit, with the legal and intellectual training of Dr. be nominated,” he said.

Pimenta also took the opportunity to criticize current senator Sergio Moro (União Brasil-PR), recalling that he was a lawyer in the scope of Operation Lava Jato, issued the decision that prevented Lula from running in the 2018 elections and later took over the vacancy of Minister of Justice of Jair Bolsonaro (PL).

Specifically in his area, Pimenta countered criticism from allies that Secom is not being efficient in communicating with the government and said that one should not expect “sealing” from the ministry, in particular with attacks on allies.