PT leader sees political dispute in Cunha

The PT leader in the Chamber of Deputies, Sibá Machado (AC), refuted the statement made by the president of the House, Eduardo Cunha (PMDB-RJ), to the Petrobras CPI, that the request by the Attorney General of the Republic, Rodrigo Janot, to the Supreme Court to open an investigation against him for involvement in corruption at Petrobras is an attempt to transfer the crisis to the other side of the street, referring to the Presidential Palace; "This issue of one side of the street and the other side of the street refers to this [political dispute]. We cannot be contaminated by this gesture," he stated.

March 12, 2015, 18:14 PMUpdated July 09, 2018, 10:55 pm

PT leader in the Chamber of Deputies, Sibá Machado (AC), refuted the statement made by the president of the House, Eduardo Cunha (PMDB-RJ), to the Petrobras CPI, that the request by the Attorney General of the Republic, Rodrigo Janot, to the STF to open an investigation against him for involvement in corruption at Petrobras is an attempt to transfer the crisis to the other side of the street, referring to the Presidential Palace; "This issue of one side of the street and the other side of the street refers to this [political dispute]. We cannot be contaminated by this gesture," he stated (Photo: Leonardo Lucena).

Luciano Nascimento - Reporter for Agência Brasil

The PT leader in the Chamber, Sibá Machado (AC) today (12) rebutted the statement by the president of the House, Eduardo Cunha, to the Parliamentary Commission of Inquiry (CPI) of Petrobras, that the request by the Attorney General of the Republic, Rodrigo Janot, to the Supreme Federal Court (STF) to open an investigation against him for involvement in corruption at Petrobras is an attempt to transfer the crisis to the other side of the street, referring to the Planalto Palace.

According to Sibá, the CPI (Parliamentary Commission of Inquiry) cannot allow itself to be contaminated by "political disputes," because "this issue of one side of the street and the other side of the street refers to that [political dispute]. It's a discussion I don't want to get into; we can't be contaminated by this gesture. It doesn't help the moment that Brazil needs to go through."

The Workers' Party leader said he believes there is no evidence to justify an investigation against the Speaker of the House: "What this House has in its hands [request to open an investigation against Cunha] gives us no reason to have his name mentioned."

According to Congressman Júlio Delgado (PSB-MG), it's not a matter of transferring the crisis from the Presidential Palace to the other side of the street. "Unfortunately, this crisis has reached Parliament; it is in Parliament. The PMDB is on the other side of the Three Powers Square, it has the vice-president and six ministers. We will have to be very patient in investigating everything, to separate the wheat from the chaff," stated Delgado, who said he believes "that Mr. [Cunha] has no involvement in this scheme."

Other deputies also expressed support for the Speaker of the House of Representatives. "I am clear that his [Cunha's] case differs greatly from the others we have on hand," said the leader of the PSDB, Carlos Sampaio (SP).

The rapporteur of the Commission, Deputy Luiz Sérgio (PT-RJ), also praised Cunha's attitude of giving spontaneous testimony to the CPI. The PT member recalled that the request for an investigation does not mean conviction. The leader of the PSC, André Moura (SE), also defended Cunha. "The weakness of the accusations makes it clear that Your Excellency was chosen, in no uncertain terms, to be investigated," said the Sergipe parliamentarian.