With allegations against Caixa Econômica Federal, Augusto Bezerra challenges Valadares.

247 - After accusing Senator Antônio Carlos Valadares (PSB) last week of opposing open voting in the Brazilian parliament – ​​which was denied by the senator himself – state deputy Augusto Bezerra (DEM) criticized him again this Wednesday (20), in a speech at the Legislative Assembly. The DEM member stated that in debates in Senate committees, Valadares had positioned himself in favor of secret voting, but changed his mind because his party had opted for open voting. Augusto said that he has been attacked by the senator, but that he will, starting next Monday (25), present complaints involving the "Minha Casa, Minha Vida" program, of Caixa Econômica Federal, which in the State is run by an ally of Valadares. On Twitter, the senator questioned why "so much aggression from Eduardo Amorim's allies" against him and his family. 

"According to the congressman, it's the biggest scandal in the country, as there's an exchange of houses for votes. 'I'll bring it up on Monday to expose this little reputation of being righteous and honest that you're trying to project to the public,' said Augusto Bezerra. On Twitter, the congressman stated that mayors are offered 200 houses in exchange for support, and city councilors, 50 houses."

In his speech, the congressman also said that the senator and his family “have been hanging on to the government for 50 years,” and although they advocated for a renewal in the administration of Aracaju, with his son running for mayor, in his hometown he put his brother up to run for mayor. “The senator created the CPMF [a tax on financial transactions] or will the people forget that? Was it only to improve the country's health, is he really that generous? These are the things that need to be clarified, acknowledged, instead of calling people liars,” Bezerra stated.

Congressman Augusto Bezerra recalled in his speech that the president of the party to which the senator belongs (PSB), Eduardo Campos, after breaking with President Dilma Rousseff, made it clear that he would relinquish his government positions. "But Valadares doesn't relinquish them. Why doesn't he relinquish control of Codevasf and his federal positions?" he asked. The congressman said he is open to a public debate.

VALADARES

Following Bezerra's first speech last week, Senator Valadares published a statement on social media with his version of the secret ballot. "The people, who are the true recipients of my actions as a Senator, want, and have every right to, follow my performance and know how I vote in all circumstances. I helped to abolish the secret ballot in all decisions, certain that we will have a more transparent Legislature, viewed with greater respect by society. The secret ballot cannot be used as an instrument to conceal acts that go against the interests of the population, as recently happened in the Chamber of Deputies, which acquitted, in a secret vote, Deputy Natan Donadon, who had been sentenced to 13 years in prison by the Supreme Federal Court," he stated.

On the afternoon of this Wednesday (20), the senator posted two messages on his Twitter in response to Bezerra: "Why so much aggression from Eduardo Amorim's allies against me and my family? They believe I am a threat to their political plans. They are wasting their time: I will not back down, I will not give up, I will continue fighting. They will not take me off the path I have chosen. Wait, those who live will see."

This article was updated at 15:28 PM to include the most recent statements from Senator Valadares.