PSDB and PPS request investigation into Lupi by the TCU (Federal Court of Accounts).
"The Minister of Labor is accused of misappropriating FAT funds to benefit labor unions; a repeat of irregularities," said Duarte Nogueira, leader of the PSDB party, to 247.
Evam Sena_247, in Brasília – The situation is becoming increasingly complicated for the Minister of Labor, Carlos Lupi (PDT). Allegations of irregularities in the management of the Workers' Assistance Fund (FAT) are gaining weight, and Lupi's continued presence in the government is shrouded in doubt. The ministry could be the target of an investigation by the Attorney General's Office if a request from opposition parties, to be made this Tuesday, is accepted.
The minister is accused of misappropriating funds from the Workers' Assistance Fund (FAT) to benefit labor unions. This year alone, companies linked to unions have already received R$ 11 million from the fund. These unions are allegedly barred by the Federal Court of Accounts (TCU) from receiving public money due to past irregularities. Many lack the infrastructure to provide the contracted services or have failed to account for the funds.
According to a report in the newspaper O Estado de S.Paulo, the National Federation of Motorcycle Taxi and Motorcycle Courier Drivers, headed by Robson Alves Paulino, a member of the PDT party, signed an agreement worth R$ 1,5 million with the ministry to train motorcycle couriers, but had to hire teachers and borrow classrooms.
Against Lupi, there are also accusations of political patronage. Even after the dismissal of the party treasurer, Marcelo Panella, from his position as the minister's chief of staff in August, ten PDT leaders hold appointed positions within the ministry. The minister himself said that party affiliation "weighed" in the appointments.
The PSDB and PPS parties will request this Tuesday that the Attorney General's Office (PGR) and the Federal Court of Accounts (TCU) investigate allegations of irregularities in contracts at the ministry. The opposition will also request, in the Chamber of Deputies, copies of all agreements with entities linked to labor unions.
“It’s a recurrence of irregularities, with a bias towards benefiting people linked to parties in the allied base. The FAT money cannot go to the central union. The allegations suggest a triangulation to benefit unions. We will investigate,” said the PSDB leader, Duarte Nogueira (SP), to Brasil 247.
"The TCU's action is urgent and necessary to prevent yet another ministry in the PT government from ending up in the police pages due to the misappropriation of public funds. We don't want the same thing that happened with the Tourism Ministry to happen in the Ministry of Labor," states PPS leader Rubens Bueno (PR) in a note.