Who will fall first, Temer or Samek?

Every other day, the anxious governor of Paraná, Beto Richa (PSDB), plants the idea in the mainstream media that he has installed the new director-general at Itaipu Binacional. But in real life, it's more likely that the illegitimate Michel Temer (PMDB) will fall before the current Brazilian bigwig at the hydroelectric plant, the "non-partisan" Jorge Samek.

The governor, a member of the PSDB party, wants to transfer the president of the Paraná Energy Company (Copel), Luiz Fernando Vianna, to Itaipu because he wants to shelter his new "flirt," Osmar Dias (PDT), at the state-owned company Copel. Dias, given the delay in the resolution of the saga, is already flirting with Ratinho Júnior (PSD).

That being said, it's important to emphasize that Samek is the longest-serving executive among all state-owned companies in the country that we know of. He has been in the position for 14 years, since the beginning of Lula's first government in 2003.

During that period, the director of Itaipu Binacional knew how to make friends and influence people. That's why Jorge Samek has behind him ministers of the Supreme Federal Court, bigwigs from the national PMDB and PSDB parties. In short, it's more likely that Temer will fall before Samek.

Meanwhile, Beto Richa is doing his part by shaking the tree, aiming to bring down the all-powerful Samek. The PSDB governor needs Itaipu to accommodate allies and get his own house in order.

Therefore, in this umpteenth announcement of Jorge Samek's downfall, it is necessary to evoke the teaching of Saint Thomas: 'seeing [the Official Gazette of the Union] is believing'. Especially since businessman Rodrigo Rocha Loures, father of Rodriguinho, Temer's right-hand man in the Planalto Palace, is also running for the general directorship of Itaipu.