Funaro says Temer received a bribe of R$ 20 million from the owner of Gol.

Michel Temer allegedly received a bribe of R$ 20 million from Henrique Constantino, one of the founders of Gol Linhas Aéreas, in exchange for supporting the project to open the airline sector to foreign capital; the accusation comes from financial broker Lúcio Funaro, in a plea bargain approved by the Supreme Federal Court; the bribe was allegedly paid in flight hours during the 2014 election campaign; last year, during the parliamentary coup that brought Temer to power, the Chamber of Deputies approved a provisional measure allowing 100% foreign ownership of Brazilian airline companies.

September 10, 2017, 12:30 PMUpdated June 26, 2018, 14:41 pm

Michel Temer allegedly received a bribe of R$ 20 million from Henrique Constantino, one of the founders of Gol Linhas Aéreas, in exchange for supporting the project to open the airline sector to foreign capital; the accusation comes from financial broker Lúcio Funaro, in a plea bargain approved by the Supreme Federal Court; the bribe was allegedly paid in flight hours during the 2014 election campaign; last year, during the parliamentary coup that brought Temer to power, the Chamber of Deputies approved a provisional measure allowing 100% foreign capital to control the shares of Brazilian airlines (Photo: Aquiles Lins).

247 - Michel Temer received a bribe of R$ 20 million from Henrique Constantino, one of the founders of Gol Linhas Aéreas, in exchange for supporting the project to open the airline sector to foreign capital.

The accusation comes from financial broker Lúcio Funaro, in a plea bargain approved by the Supreme Federal Court. According to the newspaper O Globo, the bribe was allegedly paid in flight hours during the 2014 election campaign.

Last year, during the parliamentary coup that brought Temer to power, the Chamber of Deputies approved a provisional measure allowing 100% foreign capital to control the shares of Brazilian airlines.

The proposal arrived in the Chamber of Deputies in the form of a provisional measure issued by then-President Dilma Rousseff. The provisional measure stipulated an increase from 20% to 49% in the participation of foreign capital in the shareholding control of Brazilian airlines. In June of last year, in a surprising move, Temer's governing coalition, at that time already acting as president, eliminated all restrictions on foreign capital.

The proposal fulfilled a demand from large companies in the sector. Brazilian companies were, and some still are, expecting the entry of foreign capital to strengthen their finances. Gol was one of the companies leading this movement.

The new revelations from the PMDB's bribe operator may be included by the Attorney General of the Republic, Rodrigo Janot, in the second indictment he will present to the Supreme Court against Michel Temer, for leading a criminal organization.

In addition to the second indictment against Temer, Janot is expected to present to the Supreme Court an indictment for criminal organization formed by a PMDB faction in the Chamber of Deputies. Temer is believed to be among the group's leaders.