The head of the Ministry of Transparency in Latin America resigns.

Alagoas 247 - Regional heads of the Ministry of Transparency, Oversight and Control in at least eight states resigned on Monday (30) in protest against the continued presence of Minister Fabiano Silveira in the ministry. The head of the Regional Office in Alagoas, José William Gomes da Silva, left his post and said it was unsustainable for someone to be in the body that fights corruption and be involved in a scandal with people investigated in Operation Lava Jato. 

In recordings made by former Transpetro president Sérgio Machado, Fabiano Silveira criticizes the way the Prosecutor's Office is handling Lava Jato and gives advice to those under investigation in the operation.

The audio was recorded by Machado during a meeting with the president of the Senate, Renan Calheiros (PMDB-AL), and Silveira, when he was still a member of the National Council of Justice (CNJ). On Monday afternoon, aides to acting president Michel Temer stated that, "for now," Silveira remains in his position.

Regional leaders claim that the resignations are due to Silveira remaining in his post even after the release of the recordings. They are demanding the minister's dismissal. The mobilization is being carried out by employees of the defunct Comptroller General of the Union (CGU), whose responsibilities were absorbed by the newly created Ministry of Transparency, Oversight and Control, headed by Silveira.

In some states, in addition to the resignations, the agency's activities are paralyzed.

See the states where regional heads of the Ministry of Transparency have resigned:

ALAGOAS

José William Gomes da Silva, regional head in Alagoas, resigned from his post this Monday. "It's unsustainable for someone to be in the agency that combats corruption, advising people under investigation on how to distance themselves from Operation Lava Jato, trying to hinder the work of the CGU. He [the minister] criticized the role of the Attorney General of the Republic. This puts us in a very complicated situation," he stated.

AMAPÁ

Romel Oscar Tebas resigned on Monday along with the acting head and the head of the Special Actions Unit. "The CGU is guided by the principles of ethics and integrity. CGU employees are very united, and we do not accept this type of behavior [from the minister]. Under his leadership, in theory, the CGU no longer functions. From an ethical standpoint, he is not fit for the position," Tebas stated.

CEARÁ

The regional head, Roberto Vieira Medeiros, and all 80 employees of the agency in Ceará, including technicians and analysts, resigned on Monday in protest against the change in status and subordination of the CGU (Comptroller General of the Union), which has become part of the organizational structure of the Ministry of Transparency. The employees are also demanding the immediate removal of the minister.

MINAS GERAIS

Breno Barbosa Cerqueira Alves resigned on Monday and stated that all six heads of departments within the agency also left their posts. He further stated that the agency's activities in the state are paralyzed indefinitely. According to Alves, the "last straw" leading to the resignations was the release of audio recordings with the Minister of Transparency. He also claims the action is a protest demanding the return of the CGU (Comptroller General of the Union) to the structure of the Presidency of the Republic, with ministerial status.

PERNAMBUCO

Victor de Souza Leão, head of the Regional Comptroller's Office of the Union in Pernambuco, resigned on Monday. "Given the allegations against the current minister, Fabiano Silveira, I have offered my resignation. Having a minister under investigation casts suspicion on the entire agency, which loses credibility with its special operations partners, such as the Federal Police and the Federal Public Prosecutor's Office," Leão told G1.

SÃO PAULO

Roberto César de Oliveira Viegas resigned from his post this Monday and stated that all regional heads will do the same. "All the heads, without exception, from all over Brazil, from all the federative units, have resigned. This initiative comes after the publication of a report that puts our minister in a delicate situation. The initiative aims to get him dismissed. One cannot conceive of an anti-corruption body having weaknesses of this nature," he stated.

RIO DE JANEIRO

Fabio do Valle Valgas da Silva resigned on Monday and stated that all regional heads, directors, and appointed officials are joining the protest. "I disagree with having a chief minister who is involved in a highly politically permeable, non-republican situation. The CGU is a state body, not a government body. Our function is precisely to fight against the misuse of public resources, something that bothers many sectors of national politics," he stated.

Silva also criticized the elimination of the CGU. "The elimination of the CGU weakens 14 years of institutional investment. A potential minister who does not have an impeccable record further weakens the anti-corruption body. President [acting] Temer has an obligation to show that he is truly interested in fighting corruption."

RIO GRANDE DO SUL

The regional head of the Ministry of Transparency in Rio Grande do Sul, Cláudio Moacir Marques Corrêa, offered his resignation. "There has been a loss of confidence. We hope that another person will be appointed to lead the department, which now has compromised trust with partner agencies such as the Federal Police and the Federal Public Prosecutor's Office," he stated. "It's a way to protest and also fight for the return of the name CGU. We would like to have the name Comptroller General of the Union again, as it is an identity we created and want to preserve," he added.

With gazetaweb.com