Bezerra will take to the Public Prosecutor's Office a complaint regarding the electoral use of the "Minha Casa, Minha Vida" program.
A state representative claims that the housing program, under the responsibility of Caixa Econômica Federal (a Brazilian bank), is being used as a bargaining chip for electoral support from mayors and councilors in the interior of Sergipe; he also accuses members of the State Audit Court (TCE) of pressuring mayors: "2014 is an election year and nobody is a child! We know how some institutions behave. I want to say that in some cases the TCE, which is an auxiliary body of the Assembly, has set a terrible example, summoning certain political leaders and mayors and coercing them through their accounts."
247 - State Representative Augusto Bezerra (DEM) will formally file a complaint regarding the electoral use of the “Minha Casa, Minha Vida” housing program with the State Public Prosecutor’s Office (MPE) and the Federal Public Prosecutor’s Office (MPF). When addressing the issue in the Legislative Assembly plenary on Tuesday (27), the parliamentarian did not mention names, but on Twitter last week he said that the program’s houses would be offered to mayors (200 units) and councilors (50 units) in exchange for political support. The DEM member also criticized the way some members of the State Court of Auditors (TCE) acted, who, according to him, were pressuring mayors.
"Last week I filed a complaint about the misuse of public resources in the elections. I want to make it clear that I'm not directing this at any politician in our state. I respect everyone and only react when I am disrespected or when someone says something that is not true. I will forward this to the State Public Prosecutor's Office. If this House is interested in investigating further, we can join forces and go further. I am in my fourth term and I have never worried about how people do politics, as long as they use their resources in a way that can convince the electorate. Now, anyone who uses public prestige for certain things will be reported to the Public Prosecutor's Office," he stated.
The Democrat said that the "Minha Casa, Minha Vida" (My House, My Life) program is positive and open to all associations and municipalities, but that it involves resources from Brazilian workers. "This fund must be allocated to those with sound projects. Then it's just a matter of approval and building the houses. Now, 2014 is an election year and nobody is a child! We know how some bodies behave. And, even without mentioning names, I want to say that in some cases the Court of Auditors, which is an auxiliary body of the Legislative Assembly, has set a terrible example, summoning certain political leaders and mayors and coercing them through their accounts," he stated.
State Representative Ana Lúcia (PT), as president of the Assembly's Human Rights Commission, confirmed that she was contacted by a Prosecutor from the Federal Public Ministry regarding the matter. "He told me that he has received some complaints about this housing policy in the interior of the state, but complained that he doesn't have data. If all the representatives decide to forward this information, I think the Commission and Representative Augusto Bezerra can make that contribution," she said.
State Representative Antônio dos Santos (PSC) also confirmed that he was aware of the allegations. “People feel coerced into committing to certain endorsements. The law is clear and does not allow the use of public resources for electoral purposes. It is time to call things to order and take appropriate measures,” he argued.