Opposition wants CPI to investigate "pressure" on TCU.

Mariana Jungmann - Reporter for Agência Brasil - The report from the Federal Court of Accounts approved yesterday (23), which called for the condemnation of 11 Petrobras directors to return US$ 792 million to the company because of the mistaken purchase of the Pasadena Refinery, was criticized by opposition members in Congress. Meanwhile, government supporters valued the TCU's decision to exonerate President Dilma Rousseff from the refinery purchase process.

Opposition lawmakers believe the TCU (Federal Court of Accounts) erred in exempting Dilma Rousseff and other members of Petrobras' Board of Directors at the time regarding the refinery purchase. The leader of the Solidarity party in the Chamber of Deputies, Fernando Francischini (PR), argued that the Joint Parliamentary Inquiry Commission (CPMI) on Petrobras should investigate whether there was pressure exerted on the reporting minister, José Jorge.

"In our view, there was political pressure on Minister José Jorge to exonerate President Dilma. We will submit a request to summon Minister José Jorge again to give explanations. We need to know if he received people from the government, if there was pressure regarding this report, because that would be unprecedented in this country," he said.

In Francischini's opinion, the TCU's decision will benefit bad managers, who cannot be held accountable when they fail to act or are negligent regarding errors committed by their subordinates. "Because in the biggest case in the country, involving the head of the Civil House, who was president of the Board of Directors, who was the great, highly prepared manager of our country, she let this happen, why are we going to do it with a mayor at the local level? It's a gravy train that will be validated today," he assessed.

For government supporters, the outcome of the TCU (Federal Court of Accounts) trial served to "throw down" the opposition's intention to take political advantage of the situation. "I believe that today, without a doubt, was a real cold shower, especially since even in that position, Minister José Jorge was forced to acknowledge that President Dilma has no responsibility whatsoever for any irregularities that may have been committed, as was the position of Attorney General Rodrigo Janot," said the PT leader in the Senate, Humberto Costa (PE).

However, Costa questioned the impartiality of the rapporteur on the matter at the TCU (Federal Court of Accounts) and said that "there are differing opinions" in the court regarding the responsibility of the 11 directors who were convicted and who may still appeal to the courts.

Members of Parliament met to hear testimony from the Secretary of External Control of Indirect Administration of the TCU (Federal Court of Accounts), Osvaldo Perrout. The hearing took place behind closed doors at Perrout's request, which also generated complaints from the opposition. At the end, the rapporteur of the CPMI (Joint Parliamentary Inquiry Commission), Deputy Marco Maia (PT-RS), also considered that there was no need for secrecy and said that the information provided by Perrout corroborates the TCU report approved today.

"The expert here reaffirmed the TCU's understanding, that is, on the one hand, it removes any responsibility from the Board of Directors and places this responsibility on the directors. This is what we will delve into in the investigation process, to find out if this responsibility really exists, whose responsibility it is, and what amounts are involved in this negotiation and need to be returned to the public coffers," said the rapporteur.