Donors explain their solidarity with Dirceu.
Former president of the Brazilian Bar Association (OAB), lawyer José Roberto Batochio, says he donated R$ 1 to José Dirceu and emphasizes that "solidarity with the persecuted is a value to be defended in Brazilian society, which is living through difficult times, when many cultivate hatred, a sentiment typical of fascist regimes"; other notable contributors to the campaign, which is reaching its final stretch, were the writer Fernando Morais and the journalist Paulo Moreira Leite, who says that the donations make the effort to apply the "social execution of prisoners" useless; the actor José de Abreu also donated R$ 1 to his friend Dirceu, with the aim of "sharing the punishment with him".
247 – Reaching the final stretch, the campaign to raise money to pay the fine of former minister José Dirceu, convicted in Criminal Action 470, has attracted renowned donors, who have a discourse to explain the motivation for their solidarity. As of noon this Thursday, the 20th, the initiative had raised R$ 825.529,40, including the transfer of R$ 143,000 made by Delúbio Soares' surplus. Yesterday, Dirceu was notified by the court to pay the fine of R$ 971.128,92, under penalty of having his name registered in the Federal Government's Active Debt list.
Ao 247Lawyer José Roberto Batochio, former president of the OAB (Brazilian Bar Association), stated that he donated R$ 1 to Dirceu. "Solidarity with the persecuted is a value to be defended in Brazilian society, which is living through such difficult times, when many cultivate hatred, a sentiment typical of fascist regimes," said Batochio. Another renowned donor was journalist and writer Fernando Morais, who was emphatic in justifying his donation to the former minister: "The money is mine. And with my money I do what I want."
Also a journalist, Paulo Moreira Leite, from IstoÉ magazine – author of the book "The Other Story of the Mensalão" – believes that the donations are a tool to render useless the effort to carry out the "social execution" of those convicted in Criminal Action 470. "What is desired is the social execution of the prisoners, who should be reduced to the condition of manipulable and available beings, without consciousness or free will. The donations show that this effort is useless."
In a recent interview with the newspaper O Globo, actor José de Abreu also stated that he donated R$ 1 to his friend Dirceu, whom he met while studying law. His intention: "to share the burden with him." A fierce critic of the way the Criminal Action 470 was judged, Zé de Abreu said he considered the initiative of activists, friends, and family to carry out the fundraising campaign "legitimate" (read more). here).
Last Tuesday, the PPS party, chaired by Congressman Roberto Freire (SP), filed a complaint with the Federal District Attorney's Office requesting the freezing of money raised by José Dirceu. The argument of the PPS leader in the Chamber of Deputies, Congressman Rubens Bueno, author of the document, was that, since the Workers' Party member is also facing charges of administrative misconduct in the Public Prosecutor's Office, all his assets – including the money from the fundraising campaign – should be frozen to guarantee future reimbursement to the public treasury (read more). here).