FHC's slush fund and the nature of the scorpion
Folha and Estadão report on the entire scheme, but pretend they never helped to politically support the PSDB (Brazilian Social Democracy Party) governments in São Paulo. It's a reverse "I'm fed up."
And the bribes from the French engineering company Alstom – of course FHC loves France – led to the re-election of Fernando "forget what I wrote" Henrique Cardoso. Besides buying votes in Congress to support his remaining in the Presidential Palace, the PSDB set up an international slush fund scheme. And with spreadsheets recording everything. Those crooked politicians...
In 2000, Folha de S. Paulo published a report on "unregistered donations" to the 1998 election campaign. According to the report, R$ 10,120 million were not accounted for. In the documents they claim to have had access to, one real in every five was in undeclared funds, or as the text states, "parallel accounting."
The spreadsheet for this "parallel accounting" includes the names of Andrea Matarazzo and Eduardo Jorge Caldas Pereira, a very high-ranking and influential member of the PSDB party. The PSDB campaign allegedly received millions of reais after the election, which is illegal.
Add to that the Furnas List, which diverted approximately R$ 40 million – it's worth remembering that Gilmar Mendes, at the time a member of the Attorney General's Office (AGU), received R$ 185. Take a calculator, make the necessary monetary corrections, and if it has enough zeros, calculate how much the PSDB of FHC, Serra, and Aécio diverted to stay in power.
See and Time
It's simply regrettable, though not surprising, the stance taken by Época and Veja, the "thing made on glossy paper." Globo, whether spoken, televised, or printed, will always be Globo. It orchestrates coups – as Brizola suffered in 1982 – and loves a bit of trickery and "perfect masses." Just like its São Paulo "colleague," Folha de S. Paulo.
Veja should be a subject taught in Communication courses throughout Brazil: how not to do journalism, Veja from cover to cover.
One publication launches an accusation to divert attention from the São Paulo train and subway scheme orchestrated by high-ranking members of the PSDB party, which was debunked within 24 hours. The other ignores the issue and publishes who-knows-how-many pages on the subject without mentioning the PSDB or Serra. Serra, incidentally, is Reinaldo Azevedo's favorite, who (probably) is the favorite of the Civita family. To keep everything in the spirit of the Care Bears, Veja magazine doesn't mention Serra so that Serra doesn't get upset with Reinaldo, and Reinaldo doesn't get upset with Veja.
Ah, love... Isn't it beautiful?
Folha and Estadão
Despite also having a predilection for "fragrant masses," feathers, and beaks, Folha and Estadão are reporting on the train scheme. It's worth remembering that this was long after Istoé magazine published it and many years after CartaCapital brought up this issue. It seems they've grown tired of the PSDB's inability to present itself as an alternative to the PT.
They report on the entire scheme, but pretend they never helped to politically support the PSDB (Brazilian Social Democracy Party) governments in São Paulo. It's a reverse "I'm fed up." Or is it?
Recent Ibope polls contribute to this collective feeling of frustration within the "mainstream media." However, one cannot expect a scorpion to be anything other than a scorpion. Soon, its attacks will turn against the left and the federal government.
The more you delve into campaign financing, the more problems you find with slush funds, or as the polite Folha newspaper addressed the PSDB case, parallel accounting. If you cut this relationship off at the root, you'll always have cases like this. It's no use, corruption is inherent to capitalism, and in the struggle for power, anything goes. The only morality of the capitalist is profit, from any perspective. It's always good to remember the scorpion.