Eduardo's plane: Marina remains silent and Beto challenges the Federal Police.
When questioned about the Federal Police investigation into whether the aircraft that killed Eduardo Campos and six others was purchased with undeclared funds from people close to the former governor of Pernambuco, candidate Marina Silva of the PSB party chose to remain silent. Her running mate, Congressman Beto Albuquerque (PSB/RS), was chosen to speak, challenging the Federal Police: "I don't know what the Federal Police is saying, but if they are saying something, they need to investigate before speaking. The party will provide information to everyone about the conditions of that contract," he stated. The PSB is in a difficult position, since the aircraft was a kind of ghost plane, with no declared owner; if the imbroglio persists, the PSB's candidacy could be revoked.
247 - The Brazilian Socialist Party (PSB) continues to face difficulties explaining who owned the plane that killed Eduardo Campos and six others in the recent air tragedy in Santos. The former owners, from the AF Andrade group, claim to have sold the aircraft to people close to Eduardo Campos. The businessman who allegedly brokered the transaction, Aldo Guedes from Pernambuco, a partner of Campos in a farm, denies having acquired the aircraft. The problem is that, in both cases, the plane could not have been ceded to the campaign, as it did not belong to an air taxi company. And no one is willing to assume ownership, since they would have to bear the costs of compensation to the victims of the accident.
If the controversy persists, the PSB's presidential candidacy, championed by Marina Silva, could even be challenged, since the use of the aircraft, also used by Marina on other flights, would constitute fraud against the Electoral Court (read more). here).
It's such a delicate situation that Marina Silva, who campaigned in São Paulo today, refused to comment on the case. Her running mate, Beto Albuquerque (PSB-RS), spoke out, challenging the Federal Police and urging them to prove any irregularities – in reality, it will be up to the PSB to prove that the plane had an owner, could have been used as an air taxi, and was, in fact, contracted by the campaign.
Read below an excerpt from the Agência Brasil report about Marina Silva's evasive response and Beto Albuquerque's statement:
When questioned about a news story published today by Folha de S.Paulo that the Federal Police will investigate whether the aircraft involved in the accident that killed Eduardo Campos was purchased with undeclared funds from the PSB party, Marina Silva allowed her running mate, Beto Albuquerque, to answer the question. “We continue to demand explanations about the causes of the accident, how it crashed, and why the black box didn't record [the conversation on the plane]. I don't know what the Federal Police are saying, but if they are saying something, they need to investigate before speaking. The party will provide information to everyone about the conditions of that contract,” he said, adding that the PSB should issue a statement on the matter during the week.