Former Minister of the Environment under Jair Bolsonaro, Ricardo Salles says that the MST’s CPI “will not be made to oppose the government”.| Photo: Vinícius Loures/Chamber of Deputies

Federal deputy Ricardo Salles (PL-SP), quoted to be the rapporteur of the CPI that will investigate land invasions by the MST during the government of Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva (PT), says that the commission will not be a dispute between the opposition and the ruling base. The collegiate should be installed next week, and Salles claims he already has the support of party leaders and allied parties, in addition to the Parliamentary Front for Agriculture (FPA).

Former Environment Minister of Jair Bolsonaro (PL), Salles softened the speech against Lula and says that “it is not fair to generalize” that the PT as a whole has a connection with the MST – although the group is a historical supporter of the president.

“The MST CPI is not a dispute between the government and the opposition. It will focus on the behavior of the MST, which is not necessarily the same as that of the government. Ministers have already positioned themselves against the invasions that took place this year. We are not going to work against the government, but against the crimes and abuses that certain people within a larger group are committing,” he said in an interview with Politics 360 published this Monday (8).

Salles also stated that, although the CPI will not attribute a direct link between the government or the PT to the invasions, the work will point out eventual errors or omissions. “Whatever the government is acting badly in the face of property invasions in any state, we are going to deal with it and objectify it. Now, it is not even a CPI made to oppose the government”, he added.

The parliamentarian also stated that the chairmanship of the commission should be occupied by deputy Lieutenant Colonel Zucco (Republicanos-RS).

The work of the MST’s CPI should begin after the return of the president of the Chamber of Deputies, Arthur Lira (PP-AL), on Wednesday (10). The parliamentarian is in New York participating in the Lide Brazil event.