Brazilian Bar Association calls for Palocci's resignation.

247 - The national president of the Brazilian Bar Association (OAB), Ophir Cavalcante, defended this Monday, the 30th, in a press conference at the entity's headquarters in Brasília, the immediate removal from office of the Minister of the Civil House, Antônio Palocci, until the allegations regarding the spectacular variation in his assets in recent years and the involvement of his consulting firm in this matter are fully investigated and clarified. "The request for removal is something that would sound very good within society; it's something that would leave the Dilma government much more at ease." Ophir Cavalcante harshly criticized the behavior of the Comptroller General of the Union (CGU) for not opening an investigation into the allegations against Palocci and stressed that the absence, so far, of a satisfactory explanation to society about the case is worrying. "Obviously, this affects the entire credibility of the government," warned the national president of the OAB. Below is the interview in which the national president of the OAB suggests that Minister Palocci request immediate removal from office:

P - How do you assess the position of the Comptroller General of the Union (CGU) in not investigating the Palocci case, in stating that he does not need to be investigated?

R – This decision was expected, but unfortunately, the internal audit offices of governments – municipal, state, and federal – are very strict regarding subordinate employees. But when it comes to ministers and state secretaries, this issue begins to take on a different interpretation – the interpretation that these people cannot be attacked because they are the government itself. This is regrettable; it undermines this type of control, which becomes much more of a charade, a control aimed at appeasing society rather than actually carrying out effective control. With this, these audit offices demonstrate that they have partial and limited autonomy, a relative autonomy tied to the will of the ruler, which contradicts the principle that should govern the audit office.

P - So, in the OAB's assessment, this case would indeed warrant an investigation by the CGU?

R – I have no doubt that the government should be the first to want to show society that its minister, its main minister, who is at the heart of the government, the Chief of Staff, has nothing to hide. But from the moment the government closes ranks, from the moment it creates a smokescreen and a shield around the minister, this begins to give rise to a series of discussions and questions about the minister's behavior, ethical, moral and also criminal discussions, which must be analyzed. Therefore, the government should be the first interested party to conduct this investigation.

P - Now, this argument from the CGU (Brazilian Comptroller General's Office) that the minister at the time of the alleged events was not in his current position isn't a plausible argument, don't you think?

R – From an ethical, moral, or legal standpoint, the fact is that he is currently a public official and is being accused of having an increase in assets outside legal parameters. Therefore, nothing is better than the government itself investigating and revealing the results to society. P – Do you believe that all this government protection surrounding the minister only increases suspicions? R – There is no doubt that this type of protection that the government has been providing for Minister Palocci only increases suspicions. Society wants transparency; society in Brazil increasingly fights, all day long, for public bodies to do their work in favor of society and not for their own benefit. Therefore, when the government protects the minister and says it will not investigate, obviously, all of us Brazilians begin to think that there is something rotten about all of this.

P – Would setting up a Parliamentary Commission of Inquiry be a good idea?

R – Indeed. The Parliamentary Commission of Inquiry (CPI) is a democratic instrument that is provided for society in the Constitution. Therefore, I have no doubt that the CPI is something that could be used.

P – Do you think he should step aside, as happened with Henrique Hargreaves in the Itamar Franco government, giving the minister more time to defend himself and get the government out of this situation?

R – We have two instances in this case – an ethical-moral instance; the other would be the legal or judicial instance, let's say. From an ethical-moral point of view, it would be advisable for him to step aside; it would sound very good to society and would leave the Dilma government more at ease. But obviously this depends on an internal assessment by the government, but from the point of view of society, there would be much more credibility for his version if he stepped aside.

P – Are you afraid that this scandal will end up contaminating the government? After all, it involves one of the key ministers. But then, cornered, he might become defensive, and that could end up harming the government's performance, on the eve of the World Cup and the Olympics?

R – From the moment that President Dilma's chief minister faces accusations of this magnitude and scope, but fails to provide a satisfactory explanation to society, this obviously affects the entire credibility of the government.