Dilma: Geddel's attitude goes beyond corruption.
In an interview with 247, deposed President Dilma Rousseff discusses the importance of IPHAN (National Institute of Historic and Artistic Heritage), the Ministry of Culture, and the cultural consequences of the interference of the now former Minister of the Government Secretariat, Geddel Vieira Lima, in authorizing a stalled construction project in the historic center of Salvador, where he owns an apartment. "If this happened in any decent government, he would have to be removed," she declared, days before Geddel's situation became untenable and he resigned. When questioned about the possible reason that prevented Michel Temer from acting against Geddel, Dilma says that no hypothesis can be good; "Why didn't he take action? There is no solution that is at least adequate, only a very bad hypothesis."
247 - In an interview given to 247 last week, the president deposed by impeachment, Dilma Rousseff, assessed the latest scandal of Michel Temer's government, involving the now former Minister of the Government Secretariat, Geddel Vieira Lima, and affecting the President of the Republic himself.
For Dilma, Geddel's actions – using his position to try to unblock a stalled construction project in Salvador's historic center – go beyond corruption. This is because "culture in our country is essential, because we are a diverse country, so it plays a role in structuring our national identity; it is the cement that allows us to recognize ourselves, it contributes to that."
"Since its creation, the Ministry of Culture has played a very important role. IPHAN (National Institute of Historic and Artistic Heritage) is the preserver of our historical heritage. A people without historical heritage, without history, loses its identity," Dilma continued, noting the consequences for the cultural sector of Geddel's actions, which, as Dilma recalled, were "to benefit himself, or to benefit third parties." "From the beginning, the interim government at that time showed an absolute lack of commitment to the population," she observed.
"If this happened in any decent government, he would have to be removed," criticized the former president, almost a week before Geddel's resignation, which occurred this Friday the 25th, in a letter sent by email to Michel Temer. The reason for the president's inaction, according to Dilma, is something we can speculate about, but it will not be positive.
"We now have a range, a spectrum of possibilities to speculate on. Now... none of the hypotheses are good. Why didn't they take action? There is no solution that is at least adequate, only very bad hypotheses," she opined. "Based on what is happening, the population can speculate and make an assessment," she added, when asked if she believes there are other cases of this type in the government.
Since Dilma's interview with 247 last Monday, there has been a new development in the case: the direct involvement of Temer, accused of trying to "coerce" former Culture Minister Marcelo Calero into acting in favor of Geddel and his property in the high-rise building. Calero has already testified to the Federal Police and allegedly recorded conversations with Temer, Geddel, and Minister Eliseu Padilha.
See below an excerpt from the interview in which Dilma talks about Geddel: