The "Orange Scandal" hits the Bolsonaro government hard.

By Alex Solnik, columnist for 247 and member of Journalists for Democracy 

Ministers Gustavo Bebbiano (Secretary-General of the Presidency) and Marcelo Álvaro Antônio (Tourism), both from the PSL, the party rented by President Jair Bolsonaro to get elected, are in trouble. They're either in trouble or have wasps in their feet.

The Federal Police of Pernambuco summoned former candidate for federal deputy Lourdes Paixão to clarify tomorrow why she received and how she spent the R$400 that were deposited into her account three days before the elections, sent by the national leadership of the party, the PSL, then headed by Bebbiano. Her candidacy was created by the party's founder, Luciano Bivar, who was also involved in the scandal and was then on leave from the presidency.

Bebbiano, the national coordinator of Jair's campaign, was responsible for distributing party funds nationwide. Lourdes didn't campaign, but claims to have printed 9 million leaflets at a printing shop located at an address that also houses a car repair shop. And she didn't get more than 200 votes.

The Regional Electoral Prosecutor's Office of Minas Gerais has also decided to investigate a highly suspicious case of straw candidates. The current Minister of Tourism, then president of the PSL party in the state, distributed R$279 to female candidates who spent it at companies linked to his office.

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One of them, Cleuzenir Barbosa, from Governador Valadares, stated in her testimony that she was coerced by two aides of the current minister to hire a specific printing company. Electoral misappropriation, falsification of documents, and threats, with penalties of up to six years, are the crimes being investigated and listed in a dispatch dated the 4th of this month by the head of the Electoral Public Prosecutor's Office in the state, Angelo Giardini de Oliveira, forwarded to the Electoral Prosecutor's Office.

The dismissal of the two corrupt ministers may not be the worst consequence of the scandal that is hitting the Bolsonaro government hard. Its true extent is still unknown. The demoralization of the party that elected the largest bloc in the Chamber of Deputies is evident, as its discourse of defending ethics and fighting corruption has crumbled.

Bivar, who tries to pretend it's not his problem, was also awarded – by Bebbiano – R$1.800.000 from the party fund, more than four times what Lourdes Paixão and Delegado Waldir, the second most benefited in the country after him, received.

The investigations provide grounds for opening a Parliamentary Commission of Inquiry into the PSL party, which could reveal the true extent of the corruption scheme and the crimes committed during last year's campaign by the president's party.

In the 60s, a samba called "Menino das laranjas" (Orange Boy), with lyrics and music by Theo de Barros, was very successful. A parody titled "Ministro das laranjas" (Minister of Oranges) circulates online.

Minister who messed up

Sending an orange to run for office

He gave money from Brazilians.

A candidate that nobody should vote for.

He embezzles money using only fake invoices.

For the workshop to print holy cards

But the repair shop only fixes cars, the minister said.

You'll have to explain yourself.

So many oranges, oranges, oranges, doctor!

Planted with voters' money.

So many oranges, oranges, oranges, doctor!

Return the embezzled money, please  

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