CPI (Parliamentary Commission of Inquiry) into the Ceará Aquarium sparks new controversy.
The atmosphere at the Legislative Assembly plenary session heated up today between the ruling party and the opposition. The main contenders were Deputy Tin Gomes, who was presiding over the session, and the leader of the PMDB party, Deputy Audic Mota. The topic was, once again, the Ceará Aquarium, with the opposition insisting on establishing a Parliamentary Commission of Inquiry (CPI) on the matter.
In the Legislative Assembly, the opposition bloc was surprised today by the information that three Parliamentary Commissions of Inquiry (CPIs) have been filed, which makes the CPI on the Ceará Aquarium unviable, despite having obtained the minimum number of signatures required for its establishment. Several interventions were made by opposition parliamentarians declaring their ignorance and, at the same time, questioning the prior existence of these CPIs. According to Deputy Tin Gomes, a CPI to investigate drug trafficking in the state has been filed, submitted yesterday by Deputy Rachel Marques (PT), and CPIs to investigate irregularities in the DPVAT insurance and the sexual exploitation of children and adolescents, which were filed previously. The Assembly's Internal Regulations prohibit the simultaneous operation of more than three Parliamentary Commissions of Inquiry.
Representative Renato Roseno accused the current and previous governments of fearing the Aquarium CPI (Parliamentary Commission of Inquiry) and of maneuvering to prevent its establishment.
But the main debate was between Representative Audic Mota, leader of the PMDB party, and Representative Tin Gomes, vice-president of the Assembly, who was presiding over the session. Audic Mota was interrupted several times during his speech by the chairman, who accused him of undermining the presidency. Audic accused Tin Gomes of being unbalanced.
According to Audic Mota, when seeking information from the protocol department, an employee responsible for the protocol department stated that no CPI (Parliamentary Commission of Inquiry) had been filed in 2015. Subsequently, three earlier requests appeared, including one received by the same employee. Audic stated in plenary that the PMDB (Brazilian Democratic Movement Party) does not recognize the three protocols presented today, with the date given. "The PMDB recognizes them as being from today, which is the day that the plenary of this house and society became aware of the existence of these CPIs."
Deputy Tin Gomes demanded that the PMDB caucus file the complaint in writing. Several opposition deputies also criticized Deputy Tin Gomes for the way he was conducting the session. Deputy Renato Roseno said that it is not up to the presidency to reprimand a deputy. "I am fully aware of the need to conduct the debate in a tough manner. But I ask the presidency of the house for calm."
Deputy Agenor Neto (PMDB) also said that Tin Gomes lacked the emotional balance to assume the presidency of the house. “You are trying to intimidate Deputy Audic. We are not here to fear anyone's arrogance. The people expect balance and coherence from us.”