The PT (Workers' Party) could use the PSDB's (Brazilian Social Democracy Party) mensalão (corruption
The 2014 reelection campaign could exploit the paradox between the two cases: while emblematic figures of the PT (Workers' Party), such as José Dirceu and José Genoino, were convicted for the scheme to buy parliamentary support, no member of the PSDB (Brazilian Social Democracy Party) was tried for the diversion of public funds to the reelection campaign of the former governor of Minas Gerais and current federal deputy Eduardo Azeredo (PSDB), in 1998.
247 – Leaders of the PT (Workers' Party) and other parties in the government's base believe that President Dilma Rousseff emerged unscathed from the Supreme Court's decision to opt for the execution of sentences for all defendants in the so-called "mensalão" (monthly allowance) scandal. They also believe that she emerges strengthened by not having been directly involved in the defense of the convicted PT members.
Former President Lula's political group believes it even has an extra card up its sleeve for the reelection campaign after the scandal: the Minas Gerais mensalão, which has not yet been judged. The scheme diverted public funds to the reelection campaign of the former governor of Minas Gerais and current federal deputy Eduardo Azeredo (PSDB), in 1998, according to a complaint filed by the Attorney General's Office.
While emblematic figures of the PT (Workers' Party), such as José Dirceu and José Genoino, were punished for the scheme of buying and selling parliamentary support, only the former director of Banco Rural, Nélio Brant Magalhães, was sentenced by the Federal Court in Minas Gerais to nine years and nine months in prison for his participation in the so-called Minas Gerais mensalão (monthly allowance scandal).