Brazilian congressman files complaint with the Federal Public Prosecutor's Office against Temer for misleading advertising.

Federal Deputy Reginaldo Lopes (PT-MG) filed a complaint with the Federal Public Prosecutor's Office against Michel Temer for misleading advertising, administrative misconduct, and damage to public assets, referring to nationally broadcast government advertising about the Pension Reform; the action points to crimes such as "misuse of purpose in advertising, since it is a proposal still under debate and cannot be the subject of government advertising" and "dissemination of misleading information in advertising material, with the intention of swaying public opinion"; see the document.

January 16, 2017, 17:26 AMUpdated May 28, 2019, 09:00 AM

Brasilia - The president of the Special Commission on Public Policies to Combat Drugs, Deputy Reginaldo Lopes, during the presentation of the rapporteur's opinion, Deputy Givaldo Carimbó, for voting in the Commission. The report has more than 300 pages. (Photo: Leonardo Lucena)

Mines 247 - Federal deputy Reginaldo Lopes (PT-MG) filed a complaint with the Federal Public Prosecutor's Office (MPF) against President Michel Temer for misleading advertising, administrative misconduct, and damage to public assets.

The cases were found in advertising broadcast by the federal government on national television regarding the Pension Reform (PEC 287/2016), which is still being processed in Congress. According to the document presented to the Federal Public Prosecutor's Office and forwarded to the office of the Attorney General of the Republic, Rodrigo Janot, the measures adopted by Temer are contrary to the Federal Constitution.

According to the text released by the parliamentarian's press office, "the complaint requests further investigation and points to the commission of several crimes, such as misuse of advertising funds, since it is a proposal still under debate and cannot be the subject of government advertising."

The parliamentarian also points to "the dissemination of misleading information in advertising material, with the intention of winning over public opinion; an attack against administrative probity, by failing to tell the truth and appropriating information; an attack on the independence and harmony between the branches of government, with the intention of influencing a decision of the Legislative branch through the mobilization of society; and damage to public assets, with the application of public resources for political purposes."

In 2016, the federal government sent a proposed Social Security reform (PEC 287/2016) to Congress that includes, among other measures, setting the minimum retirement age at 65 for both men and women. Under the rules proposed by Temer, workers wishing to retire with full benefits would have to contribute for 49 years. Furthermore, the text establishes a minimum contribution period of 25 years – currently 15 years – and the new rules would also cover rural workers, among other controversial points criticized by experts and society.

Reginaldo Lopes questions the content and intent of the advertisements, incorporating into the complaint the material disseminated by the Federal Government in Brazilian media outlets, as well as the website. www.reformadaprevidencia.gov.br, where the material can be consulted. In addition to the advertising materials, the document also includes the Proposed Amendment to the Constitution (PEC 287/2016), which deals with the reform of the system and is currently being processed in the Chamber of Deputies.

Check it out here the entire document.