Opposition focuses efforts on BNDES Parliamentary Inquiry Commission
Documents sent to Congress point to delayed deadlines and relaxed requirements in 15 contracts worth R$ 10,7 billion signed between the National Bank for Economic and Social Development (BNDES), chaired by Luciano Coutinho, and the EBX group, owned by Eike Batista, resulting in a loss of R$ 462 million for the bank; "We want to investigate not only the case involving Eike's companies, but all BNDES contracts. A lot of money is involved and there are suspicions of manipulated financial statements," says the leader of the PPS party, Congressman Rubens Bueno.
247 - The opposition is focusing its efforts this week on collecting signatures to establish a Joint Parliamentary Inquiry Commission (CPMI) in the National Congress to investigate loans from the National Bank for Economic and Social Development (BNDES) to large business groups. For the EBX group, owned by Eike Batista, alone, the financial institution granted more than R$ 10 billion in financing. The operation has so far caused a loss of R$ 462 million for the bank, which acquired shares in the group that is experiencing financial difficulties.
Proposed by the PPS, DEM, and PSDB parties, the CPI (Parliamentary Commission of Inquiry) would aim to investigate not only operations with Eike Batista's companies, but all contracts signed in recent years by the BNDES (Brazilian Development Bank). A report published this Monday by the newspaper O Estado de S. Paulo reveals that the bank postponed payment deadlines on the eve of loan maturities and relaxed technical requirements for EBX (Eike Batista's investment course).read more).
Documents sent to Congress reportedly indicate delayed deadlines and relaxed requirements in 15 contracts signed with the group, worth R$ 10,7 billion, between January 2009 and December 2012, with low interest rates, guarantees in shares of the companies themselves, or assets that were yet to be acquired. "It is clear that the government is using the bank to benefit certain groups specifically chosen by the PT's high-value market consultants," assesses the leader of the PPS party, federal deputy Rubens Bueno (PR).
"We want to investigate not only the case involving Eike Batista's companies, but all BNDES contracts. A lot of money is involved, and there are suspicions of manipulated financial statements," says Bueno. According to the congressman, the EBX group case directly affects the credibility of BNDES. "The allegations of favoritism jeopardize the credibility of the Brazilian government in the eyes of the world." For the CPI (Parliamentary Commission of Inquiry) to be established, signatures from 171 deputies and 27 senators are needed.