"The Cachoeira scheme stole my story."

247 - In 1999, Fernando Henrique Cardoso invited Rafael Greca, former mayor of Curitiba, to take over the Ministry of Tourism and Sports. Both FHC and Ruth Cardoso held intellectual admiration for Greca, who had been the highest-rated mayor in Brazil and also the most voted federal deputy in the country.

Greca arrived at the Ministry of Tourism and Sports in 1999, occupying a position that, before him, had been held by Pelé and Paulo Renato de Souza during the FHC government. There was a ticking time bomb there. Since the Zico Law, later converted into the Pelé Law, bingo halls were legalized in the country, and 7% of the revenue had to be allocated to sporting activities. Gaming machines could be used, as long as they were related to bingo and not to traditional slot machines.

These machines were freely imported and some were assembled in Goiânia. As minister, Greca made two decisions: (1) to transfer control over bingo revenue to Caixa Econômica Federal, since the institution already had experience with lotteries and also because the money from these establishments was not properly allocated to sports, and (2) to crack down on the importation of slot machines.

That's when his bad luck began. In reports spearheaded by journalist Mino Pedrosa, who later became a formal advisor to Carlos Cachoeira, Greca was harshly attacked – he was accused of being linked to Spanish mafias and of setting up a multi-million dollar campaign fund in the Ministry of Sports. Demóstenes Torres was not yet a senator, but another parliamentarian from Goiás was also harshly attacking the minister – Senator Maguito Vilella (PMDB-GO), who launched daily torpedoes from the rostrum.

Greca had the explicit support of FHC, but he couldn't withstand the constant attacks in the press. He resigned, his reputation was tarnished, and since then he has lived in a kind of political ostracism, from which he is trying to escape by running for mayor of Curitiba this year – he is the PMDB's pre-candidate.

In an interview with 247, he spoke about his time at the Ministry of Tourism and Sports. Read more:

247 - Can you now clearly see the interests that brought you down?

Rafael Greca – It was that mudslide. The attacks, very virulent, came from that journalist Mino Pedrosa. At the time, I didn't know he was so closely linked to Carlos Cachoeira.

247 - What were his actions during his time in ministry?

Greece – I met with the athletes at the Jockey Club in Rio de Janeiro, and they all said that the money from bingo wasn't reaching the federations. Regarding gambling, I made two decisions: to transfer control of revenue collection to the Federal Savings Bank and to shut down the rampant importation of slot machines.

247 - Is that when the attacks began?

Greece – Yes, Mino Pedrosa said I wanted to set up a campaign slush fund scheme linked to the Spanish mafia. I responded to 899 lawsuits and was acquitted in all of them. Fernando Rodrigues, from Folha, who is a decent journalist, spent a month investigating my assets and my wife's and found nothing.

247 - If you were innocent, why did you abandon the government?

Greece – Nobody can stand the massacre. Fernando Henrique was supportive. He knew I had never been inside a bingo hall. I had never seen a slot machine. My main interest in the ministry was tourism, promoting Brazil during the 500th anniversary of its discovery. Regarding sports, I truly believed that Caixa Econômica Federal (a Brazilian bank) could oversee gambling revenue. But this clashed with powerful interests, and I was massacred. To such an extent that my departure was a decision to protect President Fernando Henrique's government.

247 - What were the impacts on your political career?

Greece – I was massacred. They ruined my reputation. They stole my history. I was an award-winning mayor worldwide. I was the most voted-for congressman in Brazil, proportionally speaking. Now I'm trying for a new chance because I love the city of Curitiba.

247 - Do polls in Curitiba not place him among the favorites?

Greece – In the Ibope poll, they say I'm "rejected," but Ibope doesn't show that research. In our surveys, voters recognize that I'm the candidate with the most experience and preparation. I really want to be mayor. What ruins a country are two things: politics without conviction and money without work. I do politics out of conviction. And I was brought down by people who make money without working.