Crisis with the Congress

Government loses another

O Globo March 5th, 2015

Chamber approves PEC of Bengal, which takes Dilmas right to appoint

five new ministers to the Supreme Court (STF)
Simone Iglesias, Cristiane Jungblut and Catarina Alencastro
opais@globo.com.br

Brasilia- The list of politicians involved in corruption scandal at Petrobras

increased the gap between the government and the Congress. Yesterday was
marked by meetings at the Planalto Palace, at the Senate and at the Chamber,
with veiled exchange of accusations between the two powers. No government
effort was enough to avoid another defeat: the PEC (Proposal for Constitutional
Amendment) of Bengal, which extends the maximum age for retirement for
ministers of the superior courts from 70 to 75 years, was approved in the first
round by 318 votes in favor, 131 against and 10 abstentions. According to the
current rule, President Dilma Rousseff would the right to appoint five ministers
to the Supreme Court (STF) until the end of his term. If the action be approved
in two rounds, the President will only make new indications - in addition to the
Joaquim Barbosa replacement - if ministers retire voluntarily.
The government has been mobilizing since the last legislature to prevent
the voting, but since taking over the presidency of the Chamber, Eduardo
Cunha (PMDB-RJ) announced that it would vote the amendment. PT deputies
forwarded against the approval of the amendment, accusing it as casuistry.
The voting of the PEC of Bengal has even led to the cancellation of the
meeting that PT deputies bench would have with the ministers Mercadante
(Civil Office), Joaquim Levy (Finance), Nelson Barbosa (Planning) and Pepe
Vargas (Institutional Relations). The meeting was intended to overcome the
rejection of the PT interim measures of fiscal adjustment.
Attempts to improve the relationship with the Congress were still
hampered by a statement of the Minister of Education, Cid Gomes, that there is
"some 400 deputies the worse the better for them," who wants the government
fragile to "find more." Pronounced in Belem last week, the phrase came to light

yesterday and led the Board to decide to call the minister to provide information.
Angered by what Cid said, Eduardo Cunha announced that would not vote in
the projects of the ministers responsibilities until he explains his statements.
- This house is not a brothel that this minister thinks it is - protested
Deputy Pauderney Avelino (DEM-AM), minority leader.
The new retaliation of Congress to the government occurred amid the
upsurge of dissatisfaction of the chairmen of the Chamber and Senate, against
the Planalto. Cunha and Renan Calheiros (PMDB-AL) blame the government,
specifically the Justice Minister Jos Eduardo Cardozo, being survey opening
target by the Supreme Court and the attempt to dehydrate the PMDB. Renan
said yesterday that is not involved with the Jet Wash (Lava Jato) and that if was
quoted, was indirectly and by "third parties". The allies, reminded that they
already faced impeachment process and "much worse cases".
The government denies any management to include or remove cited in
investigated list of the Jet Wash. According to a minister's political core, the
government has no power to influence the Attorney General's Office of the
Republic:
In a demonstration of the tense atmosphere, Renan left the Minister of
Institutional Relations, Pepe Vargas, waiting for over half an hour in his office at
the president of the Senate. In conversation with Vargas, Renan warned that
the next bomb to the government in Congress will be the veto of President
Dilma Rousseff to correction of 6.5% of the income tax table. Renan warned
that a negotiated solution is needed, or defeat is certain. In the end of the
meeting, Vargas said that "removed the tension" environment between Renan
and the Planalto.
- The President show us his view that it was important the government to
find a negotiated solution around the Income Tax veto, negotiated with the two
Houses. We will work in the coming days to see what is possible.
About the return of the provisional measure annulling the effects of
release on the sheet of the companies, happened on the day before, Vargas
said Renan wanted to make clear that the government needs to talk more.
President Dilma tried to avoid the return of the MP (Public Ministry) on Tuesday
afternoon, but could not talk to Renan in time. She called the President of the

Senate, but he was already announcing its position on the Senate floor and
being greeted by the opposition. Since then, Dilma and Renan did not speak.
The Finance Minister, Joaquim Levy, spoke with Renan by phone, but did
not succeed. Senators told O Globo that Levy reminded Renan he is the father
of a governor, Renan Filho, of Alagoas.
- I am president of the Congress and not the governor - said Renan,
according to senators.
The Renan's decision to return the relief of MP was seen in the Planalto
as a "marketing ploy" to divide the headlines with the citation of his name by the
PGR (Attorney General of the Republic). Despite the exchange of barbs (verbal
fight), government sources believe in a "reconstruction" bridge with the
President of the Senate.
In the morning, Dilma held meetings to address the fiscal adjustment
measures with leaders of allied parties in Congress. Did not invite to the
conversations the Vice President Michel Temer, who had engaged to call for
political discussions with the base. Given the inconvenience caused, in the late
afternoon Dilma called the deputy to his office to talk. (Contributed Junia Gama
and Fernanda Krakovics)

Interview - Murillo de Aragon

O Globo March 5th, 2015

"DILMA is bricked by the Congress, that imposes her schedule

The publicized failure in the relationship of President Dilma Rousseff with

the Congress will change at once the country's politics, says political scientist
Murillo de Aragon. For him, the lack of ability and appreciation of Dilma for the
politics puts an end to the submissive posture of the Legislature in relation to
the Executive.

Isabel Braga
isabraga@bsb.oglobo.com.br
-Brasilia-

What represents the attitude of the President of the Senate, Renan

Calheiros, returning an important project for the fiscal adjustment after
being told that his name was on the Jet Was politicians list?
The attitude of Renan combines two clear factors for me: first, the desire
of the Congress to be recognized as the power that it is. It is an institutional
attitude and follows clear trend, which began with the decision to vote the
presidential vetoes and approve the imposing budget. The second factor is
operational. Government policy coordination with the Congress is not working.
An MP with this relevance would have to have been previously negotiated with
the main leaders.
Renan had boycotted a dinner with Dilma. He moved position of
preferential ally to rebel?
I do not believe that the not going was retaliation for some personal
undone. What exists is a discomfort within the coalition PMDB and institutional
strengthening of Congress.
The names of Renan and Cunha in the prosecutor's list can mean a
weakening of the legislative independence?
Any involvement or research brings discomfort. Now, I do not attach to
this episode the intensification of the relationship between government and
Congress. Are independent attitudes. Be included in the list is the decision of
the prosecution, from the judicial investigations. There is an institutional
strengthening and deficiency in the coordination policy.

 You make a crisis diagnosis of presidential coalition. Can you explain

why?
The presidentialism of coalition aims to give the president-elect a majority
in Congress. It would be, roughly, a half parliamentarism because the
government needs to have a majority to approve his proposals and guard
against the opposition. To the extent that the political forces in Congress do not
think adequately represented in the government, there are tensions. And these
tensions were evidenced during the first mandate of Dilma.
But how it got to this point?
There was no adequate participation of the political parties in the
ministries, in the distribution of positions and funds related to this support in
Congress. Thus is created a dissatisfaction and settlements of liabilities that
ends now in her second mandate. She is being bricked by the Congress the
imposes her schedule.
But the president has 39 ministers, with representatives of these political
parties in them. What does not work?
The ministries often are empty. Who run the machine is not the holder of
the political party that occupies. Receive the ministry, but not the pen to
administer. And sometimes she chooses the minister of the political party is not
the political party that chooses, which creates tension. And the third point
concerns the proportionality does not support the size of the symbols in
Congress. The PT has created an idea that the president would have greater
supremacy than it should have. Who should have is the coalition of political
parties that supported the election of Dilma and Michel Temer.

 But it was not always like this?

The PMDB was slow to realize that it has more power than he exercises
effectively. Only after the irritation caused by the first Dilmas mandate is that
what awakening it to this reality.

"The PMDB was slow to realize that it has more

power than he exercises effectively"

Column - Merval Pereira

O Globo March 5th, 2015

Dilma's paradox

At the same time that increased its political problems with the disclosure
of which would be part of the list of Attorney General Rodrigo Janot,
paradoxically the President Dilma was reinforced by the weakening of the
Congress, with the presidents of the Chamber and Senate included among
those investigated in Operation Jet Wash.
If it was hasty the defense of impeachment at this point, without concrete
data sustain the suspect, almost certainly, the population that President Dilma
"had knowledge of corruption in Petrobras' (77% of respondents); "Knew of
deviations and left continue" (52%); "Knew and could do nothing" (25%), as
revealed the recent Data-sheet survey, now in the process would be politically
unfeasible STF that a Board chaired by Eduardo Cunha received a President
offside request or the Senate chaired by Renan Calheiros this continuation of
the process, which would be chaired by the President of the Supreme Court.
This shield, which was being celebrated yesterday by closest allies Dilma
is, however, what makes the two politicians convinced that this was the purpose
of the inclusion of their names in the list. Naturally in humans, especially in the
quality of the two politicians, forget their own sins to transfer to others the blame
for their misfortunes.
And as they will continue in their office positions during most of the
investigation, and maintain their mandates even after eventually being reported,
both will be in power situation to face the Planalto Palace and political pressure
President Dilma.
If they are convinced that it was the Justice Minister Jos Eduardo
Cardozo, who led the attorney general's office to include them in the list and do
not even believe in the independence of Janot, therefore consider that
pressuring the government can count on your interference in the course of
investigations by the Federal Police.

There is now the fact that the life of President Dilma will not be easy, on
the contrary, with several pro-government allies included in Janot research list.
The political difficulties are the economic, and the uncertainty in Congress
removes any possibility of the government to ensure that the fiscal balance
measures should be adopted.
The political environment is contaminated by personal issues that end up
being essential to decision-making, often right, but for the wrong reasons. This
is the case for the return of the provisional measure on the exemption from
payroll, attitude taken by Renan with a correct formal reason and another,
underlying and denied, but known to be important, it was his inclusion in the
investigated list.
Each of his attitude, even based on institutional reasons, will keep from
now on a hard antigovernment difficult to camouflage. Also Eduardo Cunha had
increased their dose of pragmatic opposition to the inclusion of his name in the
list of Janot.
Petrobras CPI will be a good stage to perform their "independence" of
the Planalto Palace, the basis of his election to the presidency of the Chamber.
The PMDB, as government co-participate, will always have a formal attitude
ally, but as their collaboration is not requested by President Dilma, the farther it
gets from the government co-responsibility.
The vice-president Michel Temer is only called when the circus is on fire,
as is the currently case. But at this stage of the championship, with the
president weakened by poor economic outlook, and with the base ally at war, a
more effective approach will be difficult.
Will the Senate, for example, that adopt the name indicated for the
vacant Minister Joaquim Barbosa in the Supreme Court. With several senators
and deputies on the investigated list, the new minister, who will participate in the
second group that will judge the petrolo, will have serious difficulties during the
inquisition.
First reason for the distancing of PMDB from the government, the PT is
in the spotlight again in the investigation of petrolo, and can not count on the
solidarity of what would be in theory their greatest ally in Congress. Unless all
ends in pizza, giving reason to distrust and certainties of Cunha and Calheiros.

And then the democracy is being affronted.

The key points
1-At the same time that increased her political problems with the disclosure of
which would be part of Janot list, paradoxically Dilma was reinforced by the
weakening of the Congress
2-This shield, which was being celebrated yesterday by Dilmas closest allies, is
what makes the two politicians to be convinced that this was the purpose of the
inclusion of their names in the list
3-First reason for the distancing of PMDB from the government, the PT is in the
spotlight again in the investigation of petrolo

For Cunha, cited in the Jet Wash can integrate Ethics

Board
O Globo March 5th, 2015

Chambers Chairman claims that there is no condemnation of

parliamentary

Junia Gama, Evandro boli, and Isabel Braga

opais@oglobo.com.br

-Braslia- The Ethics Board of the Chamber, public organ that will judge any
impeachment proceedings against members cited in Petrobras corruption
scheme, began to be formed yesterday by parliamentarians whose history
shows little willingness to punish colleagues. On the same day, the Chambers
Chairman, Eduardo Cunha (PMDB-RJ), said he did not see any impediment for

Members cited in Operation Jet Wash integrate the Ethics Board, claiming that
"all are equal" in the Chamber.
-All Who are in office in this House are legitimate to exercise any function, no
one can be considered under suspicion. Of course it will not be the rapporteur
of any process regarding this matter. For me, I see no difficulty, who's here is
just like everyone else. Until resign or have suffered process with
disqualification from holding office, is equal to all - Cunha said.
INDICATIONS CONTROVERSIES
The Chambers Chairman - himself one of the possible cited in the list that the
Public Ministry sent to the Supreme Court (STF) - said that to be the target of
investigation Court do not disqualify the parliamentary to any function in the
House.
-There are people here with investigation, there are people here with
denounces. The vote is worth the same in plenary. We are not to restrict
anyone.
In the composition of the Board of Ethics, the most controversial indications
were the Solidarity and PTB. The political party led by deputy Paulinho Force
(SD-SP) confronted Wladimir Costa (SD-PA), which already gave a speech
saying to not be in the House to revoke anyone. Costa did in 2014 arduous
defense of Luiz Arglo (SD-BA), which had the mandate revoked in the public
organ, accused of involvement with the money changer Alberto Youssef, stuck
in the jet wash operation.
- I am increasingly convinced of the innocence of the deputy - Costa said at the
time.
The indicated by the PTB, deputy Sergio Moraes (PTB-RS), who has chaired
the board in 2008, is also back. He was once came to be removed from the
rapporteur of the case against the deputy Edmar Moreira (PR-MG) - accused of

using indemnification founds in his security companies - to defend his acquittal

in interviews. In another episode, said that he did not care about the public
opinion.
I do not care about the public opinion. Also because part of the public opinion
does not believe in what you write. You hit, but we are re-elected - said at the
time.
The most important committees are being divided between the public parties
without it being considered the involvement in Petrolo. In the Chamber, the
Committee of Constitution and Justice (CCJ) elected the deputy Arthur Lira (PPAL) for the presidency. Were 47 votes in favor and 12 abstentions. The blank
number is unusual. There was movement behind the scenes because the
parliamentary can be on the list of the Attorney General, Rodrigo Janot.
In 2013, the Supreme Court opened criminal proceedings against Lira, accused
of assaulting his ex-wife Jullyenne Cristine Santos Lins. The congressman was
charged based on the Maria da Penha Law. The victim claims that in 2006,
seven months after the separation, Lira slapped and kicked her and dragged
her by the hair. The deputy denied the assault:
-It is Political evil, I have opponents in the state to try to hinder my life here in
Congress. In the criminal case, she denied for the fourth time.
After the election, the deputy minimized the 12 blank votes, saying he did not do
a campaign. Lira said he had no expectation of being included in the "Janot list",
"but argued that, if it, would not be an "impediment "to continue in office.
-The Chamber should have more than 200 deputies responding to inquiry,
action, denounce, then it has to be very calm, separate the wheat from the chaff
- said.
In the Senate, the PT decided to appoint Senator Delcdio Amaral (PT-MS) to
be the new chairman of the Economic Affairs Committee (CAE), a position that

was disputed by Senator Gleisi Hoffmann (PT-PR), both cited during

investigations of Operation Jet Wash. In the settlement, Gleisi was nominated to
occupy the vice-chair of the Committee of Constitution and Justice (CCJ).
-People who are being present in this list have not been tried or convicted. No
one is guilty or lost their right. In relation to the senators of the PT, I know them
and I know that will be acquitted - said the leader of the PT, Humberto Costa
(PE).
CUNHA: "I HAD TWO INQUIRIES"
Yesterday, Eduardo Cunha also said he still not see reasons why the above are
processed on the Board of Ethics. For Cunha, be investigated in the Supreme
Court is not sufficient reason to be target on an impeachment process.
-I already had two surveys: one that set up a complaint and for which I was
acquitted. You must have at least today hundred inquiries, denounces handled
in the Supreme and has no application for impeachment of parliamentary
involved there because of this - he said. (Contributed Cristiane Jungblute and
Eduardo Bresciani).

"There are people here with investigation, there are people here with
denounces. The vote is worth the same in plenary. We are not to
restrict anyone"
Eduardo Cunha Chambers Chairman

Mentions to Dilma and Acio were discarded

O Globo March 5th, 2015

For PGR, quotes to the names of the president and the senator were
insufficient for investigation requests

Vinicius Sassine
Vinicius.jorge@bsb.oglobo.com.br

-Braslia- Upon receiving the material from the Jet Wash operation with
references to authorities with special jurisdiction, the Attorney General's Office
(PGR) encountered quote to the names of two candidates who competed in the
second round of the 2014 presidential elections: the president Dilma Rousseff
(PT) and Senator Acio Neves (PSDB). During the analysis of the content, in
the days leading investigations opening order in the Supreme Court (STF), the
PGR considered that the information about the two were not enough for
investigation requests. It is unknown, however, if the Attorney General of the
Republic, Rodrigo Janot, effected the disposal of the verification formalizing the
Supreme filing requests. PSDB members guarantee, however, that there was
filing on the case of Acio. The 28 investigation requests filed in the Supreme
Court, where are listed 54 names, and the seven archiving remain confidential.
The expectation is that the relator of the case, Teori Zavascki, drop the secrecy
until tomorrow.
O GLOBE sought PGR press office to know the formal fate of the two cases.
Because of the secrecy of the investigation requests, the agency did not provide
the information. "The quote people are confidential," said the press office.
DILMA NO INVOLVEMENT IN THE FACTS
In the case of Dilma, the initial assessment was that the quote would be only
references to the name of the PT, without direct involvement in the facts. The

citation to Acio concerned about old facts, from the 90s Furthermore, the
reference bore no relation to the scheme of misappropriation of resources at
Petrobras, routed in Operation Jet Wash.
The basis for Janot petitions in the Supreme Court were the testimonies of the
two main informers of the scheme, the money changer Alberto Youssef and
Petrobras Supply former director Paulo Roberto Costa. The support group to
Janot, mounted in late January to review the citations to politicians with special
jurisdiction, has envisaged on what to do in relation to the quote to Dilma and
Acio.
Throughout the day, PSDBs parliamentary reported receiving information that
Janot recommended to the Supreme Court filing quote to Acio in Operation Jet
Wash. The toucan, which is political party chairman celebrated the decision and
said there was a government drive to try to involve the opposition in the case.
- I was not aware, but I get as a tribute filing. There was an attempt to involve
the opposition. And if the prosecutor concluded that there was nothing he has
the last word - Acio said.
The report found that, at some point of the analysis of the quotes to the toucan,
came to cogitate the possibility of open an investigation request against the
president of the PSDB. The understanding that would have prevailed was that
the references would not give support to the Supreme comply with the request
of the Public Ministry, and to determine the opening of an investigation.
YOUSSEF QUOTED ACIOS SISTER
In one of the statements of the award winning tipoff, the money changer
Youssef said he knew that Acio received diverted money from FURNAS
CENTRAIS ELETRICAS in the period he was a federal deputy. The payments
would have been made by one of the senators sisters. The report of the bribes
came to Youssef through the former deputy Jos Janene (PP-PR), already

dead. Janene is identified as one of the heads of the deviations at Petrobras

Supply management contracts.
- In relation to Senator Acio, he said he heard about it. Do not have any
evidence. He does not know the senator. Does not have any proof - told to the
O GLOBO the lawyer Antonio Figueiredo Basto, coordinator of the defense of
the money changer in the processes related to Operation Jet Wash.
Youssef mentioned the sister of the senator, but did not know which one. The
senator has two sisters. To Basto, the prosecution is fragile. This would have
been the reason that led Janot not ask investigation opened against Acio,
according to the lawyer. He also said that, if called to testify again, Youssef will
no longer talk about it because it would have no way to prove the charges.
(Contributed Eduardo Bresciani and Jailton de Carvalho)
"I get as a tribute the filing. If the prosecutor concluded that there was nothing,
he has the last word"
Acio Neves