"If the cartel is identified, the state is the victim."
In addition to again blaming CADE (Brazil's antitrust agency) in the case of cartel practices in bidding processes for the Metro and metropolitan trains in the state, the governor of São Paulo said this Monday, the 5th, that the government could still be a "victim" in the scheme denounced by Siemens; "But, for that, we need to have the data. We need access," stated the governor; however, the German multinational revealed that there were bribe payments to PSDB politicians; at an event in the capital, alongside José Serra, also accused of being part of the scheme, Geraldo Alckmin said "that companies will be rigorously punished" and that "they will have to compensate the state."
SP247 - The governor of São Paulo, Geraldo Alckmin (PSDB), once again criticized Cade (Administrative Council for Economic Defense) this Monday, the 5th, when commenting on the allegations of cartel activity in bidding processes for the Metro and metropolitan trains in the state. Furthermore, the governor stated that, if the cartel is confirmed, the São Paulo government "is a victim."
"If the cartel is identified, the state is a victim. But for that, we need the data. We need access. It's regrettable that the state of São Paulo has to go to court to gain access to documents in order to investigate," said Alckmin, who was at the opening of the Brazilian Agribusiness Congress in the state capital.
According to a complaint filed by Siemens, which claims to be part of the scheme, bribes were paid to political authorities during the more than 20 years of PSDB government in São Paulo – including the administrations of Mario Covas, Alckmin's first term, and also José Serra, who was also at this morning's event. However, the governor made no comment on this.
Alckmin, who filed a writ of mandamus to gain access to all the investigation data held by CADE (Administrative Council for Economic Defense), also said that "if any type of cartel is proven, the companies will be rigorously punished and will have to compensate the state." This Sunday, Serra also required He demanded his money back and denied being part of the cartel. "All I want is to know what the agreements of these cartels were and for them to return the money."