First day of the CPI (Parliamentary Commission of Inquiry) has unresolved dilemmas.

247 – The first day of work of the Joint Parliamentary Inquiry Commission on Cachoeira had three major protagonists – each for a different reason. The most cited figure, without a doubt, was the Attorney General of the Republic, Roberto Gurgel. Next, former president and current senator Fernando Collor had his moment in the spotlight. Finally, one of the names most frequently mentioned by parliamentarians was that of the construction company Delta, owned by businessman Fernando Cavendish.

Among these highlights, what stood out was the widespread participation of all 30 members of the commission. It became clear from the outset what each member's role should be. Collectively, they sought to establish a work plan and projected the extension of debates and inquiries until the last quarter of this year. A disagreement arose regarding whether to participate two or three times a week. Similarly, there was no consensus, until early evening, regarding the summoning of the figure who gives the CPI its popular name: the racketeer Carlinhos Cachoeira.

Some members of the commission, such as Congressman Miro Teixeira (PDT-RJ), argued that the investigations should begin with Cachoeira's testimony. "A defendant in custody has priority," said the congressman, referring to Cachoeira. But other politicians opted to maintain that Cachoeira will have to be called to testify more than once, but not necessarily at the beginning of the proceedings.

The debate surrounding the Attorney General centered on whether or not the commission would summon him. Some argued that Gurgel cannot be compelled to appear, while others defended the CPI's power to summon him without question.

VACAREZZA CRITICIZES GURGEL - Federal Deputy Cândido Vaccarezza (PT-SP) defended the summoning of Gurgel. “The fact that the prosecutor has sat on these investigations for 4 years is not right. He owes an explanation to Brazilian society,” said the former government leader in the Chamber of Deputies, referring to an inquiry that could compromise Senator Demóstenes Torres, also a key figure in the investigations into illegal gambling operator Carlinhos Cachoeira. With this stance, Vacarezza voiced the PT's strategy of restricting the investigations to the connections between Cachoeira and Torres, instead of working towards a broader scope.

The summoning of Gurgel was questioned by a number of parliamentarians, including Senator Pedro Taques (PDT), on the grounds that, as Attorney General, Gurgel should receive the final report of the Parliamentary Commission of Inquiry (CPI) and decide whether it should be forwarded to the Supreme Federal Court. As a member of the commission, he would be prevented from judging its outcome. Those in favor of and against summoning Gurgel were divided between government supporters and the opposition, respectively.

“We cannot begin by restricting ourselves,” said Congressman Luiz Sérgio (PT-RJ), also a defender of summoning Gurgel. Senator Fernando Collor (PTB-AL) defended the constitutional right of Parliamentary Commissions of Inquiry (CPIs) to summon “any” citizen, including the Attorney General of the Republic. Like Vaccarezza, the senator based his argument on Gurgel's delay in filing charges regarding facts investigated by the Federal Police since 2009.

The leader of the PPS in the Chamber of Deputies, Rubens Bueno (PR), was one of those who rejected the summoning of Gurgel. “If it has already been explained here (at the Parliamentary Commission of Inquiry) that there is a similarity between the position of Attorney General and that of the ministers of the Supreme Federal Court, then this insistence makes no sense. Why not bring in (Ricardo) Lewandowski (rapporteur of the Operation Monte Carlo case), why not bring in Ayres Britto?”, Bueno ironically asked.

Before the meeting, the chairman of the committee, Senator Vital do Rêgo (PMDB-PB), tried to reach an agreement with Gurgel so that he would accept an invitation – and not have to be summoned – to testify before the committee. Gurgel, however, replied that he did not wish to attend, refusing the proposal. Officially, later, he declared himself unable to go to the committee, because, at the end of the proceedings, the report will be sent to him personally.

COLLOR ON STAGE – Former president and senator Fernando Collor (PTB-AL) gained, with the CPI (Parliamentary Commission of Inquiry), the stage he sought to try to cleanse his biography as a victim of an impeachment by Congress that was not determined by the courts. In his first statement, he criticized the summoning of the Attorney General, arguing that he owes explanations for having held up the investigation regarding Demóstenes since 2009.

In his strategy, Collor sought a legalistic position. He criticized the leaking of information to the press and made a point of acting as a watchman for the CPI (Parliamentary Commission of Inquiry), always trying to appear alert to prevent information from leaking. "Your Excellency, as well as the rapporteur, are primarily responsible for any leaks that occur, and will be liable to punishment to the full extent of the law," said Collor, addressing President Vital do Rêgo. In defending secrecy, Collor said that his position is not "hypocritical, shameless, or despicable." In an attack on the press and colleagues, the senator said that "hypocrites are those who provide information under the table to some colleagues, and use that information as they see fit."

In criticizing the actions of journalists, Collor said that there is a "criminal cohabitation between colleagues and some parliamentarians" in Congress who provide information "in exchange for the publication of favorable news."

RIO DE JANEIRO

Representatives from Rio de Janeiro, deputies Miro Teixeira and Chico Alencar (PSOL), raised the question, voted on after 19 PM, that the CPI (Parliamentary Commission of Inquiry) would only investigate Delta's contracts in the Central-West region. It is in their interest that the company undergo a thorough investigation of its contracts throughout the country, especially those in effect in the state of Rio, where Governor Sérgio Cabral is their common adversary. The rapporteur, Odair Cunha (PT-MG), clarified that he used the word "including" to guarantee that, yes, Delta will be investigated nationally. This issue was put to a vote, and his position prevailed. At 19:52 PM, amidst some protests, he abruptly ended the first session of the Cachoeira CPI.

A WORD ABOUT SEE

Congressman Luis Sérgio (PT-RJ) was the only one to mention Veja magazine as one of the targets of the CPI (Parliamentary Commission of Inquiry).