Bombshell book reveals how FHC bought his reelection.

247 - A bombshell book arrives in bookstores across the country this weekend. It's called "The Prince of Privatization," by journalist Palmério Doria, author of the bestseller *Honorable Bandits*, about the power of the Sarney family, and columnist for 247. This time, Doria's focus is on one of the most powerful and revered men in Brazil: former president Fernando Henrique Cardoso. In the book, the author addresses the contradictions of the character and some stains on his biography, such as the purchase of the reelection amendment and the heavy-handed operation to shield him from the press regarding his illegitimate son with a Globo journalist, who, in the end, was not his legitimate child.

Read, firsthand, the promotional material prepared by Geração Editorial, the same publishing house that launched successful investigative journalism books such as Privataria Tucana, by Amaury Ribeiro Jr., and Segredos do Conclave, by Gerson Camaratti:

The Prince of Privatization reveals who "Mr. X" is, the man who denounced the purchase of the reelection.

A major report, 400 pages, 36 chapters, 20 years of research, a veteran reporter, a central character full of contradictions, powerful, former president of the Republic, a journalistic scoop, the behind-the-scenes of the press—this is the main content of the newest controversy in the Brazilian publishing market: The Prince of Privatization – The secret story of how Brazil lost its assets and Fernando Henrique Cardoso won his reelection. (Geração Editorial, R$ 39,90).

With an initial print run of 25 copies, a very high number by national standards, The Prince of Privatization This is the 9th title in the collection. History Now from Geração Editorial, which includes the sensational The Toucan Privataria and the most recent Secrets of the Conclave.

The main character in the work is former president Fernando Henrique Cardoso, and the author is journalist Palmério Dória.Honorable Bandits – A portrait of Brazil in the Sarney era(among other titles). The report portrays FHC's two terms in office, from 1995 to 2002, the controversial and contradictory privatizations of the PSDB government, and reveals, with in-depth investigation, the procedures for buying reelection, who "Mr. X" was – the mysterious source who recorded deputies confessing to selling votes for reelection – and who the president's true friends were, the role of the press in relation to the PSDB government, and the connection between the Brazilian Center for Analysis and Planning (Cebrap) and the CIA, in addition to the alleged illegitimate child, an "open secret" kept for years...

After 16 years, Palmério Dória presents to Brazil the main character in the biggest corruption scandal of the FHC government: "Mr. X". He was the former federal deputy who recorded, on a tiny device, the "confessions" of his colleagues that served as the basis for the reports by journalist Fernando Rodrigues published in... Folha de S. Paul In May 1997, the series "Vote Market" showed, in the most objective way possible, how the buying of votes from deputies was carried out to guarantee the approval of the reelection amendment. "He bought his seat: 150 representatives, a mountain of money to secure his reelection.""That's what Senator Pedro Simon from Rio Grande do Sul said. Rodrigues, an experienced investigative reporter, won the main awards in the category in the year of publication."

In conversations with "Mr. X," federal deputies confirmed that they had received R$ 200 to support the government. A scandal that shook Brasília and remains poorly explained to this day. Yet another instance of misconduct shelved during the FHC era.

However, in 2012, businessman and former congressman from Acre, Narciso Mendes – "Mr. X" – after undergoing complicated surgery and being between life and death, decided to tell everything he knew.

The author and co-author of this work, also a veteran journalist, Mylton Severiano, traveled more than 3.500 kilometers to meet "Mr. X." They landed in Rio Branco, Acre, to meet, interview, and record a lucid man willing to unveil a murky chapter of Brazil's recent democracy.

"Mr. X" appears – even with a photo on the cover and throughout the book. He explains, recounts, and shows how politics was conducted in the "most ethical" government in history. One of the great secrets of the Brazilian press is revealed.

20 years of investigation

In 1993, the author began investigating the life of FHC, which would result in this controversial book. Over the last two decades, Palmério Dória has interviewed numerous personalities, including former President of the Republic Itamar Franco, former minister and former governor of Ceará Ciro Gomes, and Senator Pedro Simon of the PMDB party. All three, for various reasons, made controversial revelations about President Fernando Henrique and the Brazilian political landscape.

EXILE IN EUROPE

Unlike the media mogul Charles Foster Kane, the character in the film. Citizen Kane, Unlike Orson Welles, who, when blackmailed by his opponent about his alleged extramarital affair on the eve of an election, decided to confront the threat and was defeated at the polls due to the controversy, FHC preferred to hide the fact that he had a son from a relationship with a journalist.

FHC (Fernando Henrique Cardoso) takes the risk of losing the election seriously. In a daring plan, and in partnership with the country's largest television network, Rede Globo, journalist Miriam Dutra and her alleged infant son are "exiled" to Europe. Palmério Dória does not make a moralistic judgment of an extramarital affair and its consequences, but emphasizes the silence of the Brazilian press regarding an episode known in 11 out of 10 newsrooms consulted. It was no secret to journalists and politicians, but how was such a unique and unprecedented shielding in this country able to keep such a case secret for so many years?

The fact was only revealed much later, and discreetly, after Fernando Henrique Cardoso was no longer president and his wife, Dona Ruth Cardoso, had died. It had an unusual ending: a DNA test revealed that the child was not the former president's, although he had already acknowledged him.  

The book details the neoliberal plan to sell off all national assets. "His most heinous crime was destroying the National Soul, the collective dream.", The journalist who uncovered the privatization process during the FHC era, Aloysio Biondi, reported this in his book. Privatized Brazil.

The Prince of Privatization It also recounts the behind-the-scenes details of the attempted sale of Petrobras, in which even the creation of a visual identity for the new company, Petrobrax, was designed to facilitate understanding by the international community. It also covers the handover of the telecommunications system, bribes in the auctions of telecom companies and other state-owned enterprises, state banks, highways, and even the alleged plan to sell Caixa Econômica Federal and Banco do Brasil. "We don't even need a "theft meter": FHC, with his privatizations, stole 10 times more than any possible embezzlement by Lula's government.", "This is a complaint made by Senator Roberto Requião from Paraná."

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Palmério Dória He is a reporter. He was born in Santarém, Pará, in 1949 and currently lives in São Paulo, the capital city. His career began in the late 1960s, and he has worked for numerous newsrooms in both mainstream and smaller media outlets. He has published six books, four of which are about politics. The Araguaia Guerrilla; They Killed the President — Memoirs of the gunman who changed the history of Brazil. ; The Candidate Who Turned into a Popsicle (regarding Roseana Sarney's downfall in the 2002 presidential race, orchestrated by José Serra); and Honorable Bandits — A portrait of Brazil in the Sarney Era ; two more memoirs: Great Women I Didn't Sleep With, by the Yellow House; and Privacy Evasion, published by Geração Editorial.