PSOL requests the disqualification of Arruda's candidacy.
The party's directory in the Federal District filed requests this Thursday (10) to annul the candidacies of the PR politician for governor and Jaqueline Roriz (PMN) for federal deputy; the socialists argue that both are ineligible under the Clean Record Law, after having been convicted in the second instance for administrative misconduct for involvement in the scheme known as the DEM mensalão. Arruda's defense claims that he has already submitted his registration to the TRE, which would guarantee him the right to run in the election. However, as the registration has not yet been approved, there is an understanding that he may be excluded from the race in October.
Brasilia 247 - The PSOL directory in the Federal District filed this Thursday (10) requests to challenge the candidacies of José Roberto Arruda (PR) for governor of the DF and Jaqueline Roriz (PMN) for federal deputy. The party argues that both are prevented from running because they fall under the Clean Record Law and had convictions for crimes of impropriety confirmed before the homologation of the candidacy by the Electoral Court.
Yesterday (9), Arruda was convicted in the second instance for administrative misconduct for involvement in the scheme known as the DEM mensalão. If the punishment is applied immediately, he will be ineligible for the next eight years. The rapporteur of the case at the Court of Justice of the Federal District and Territories (TJDFT), Judge Carmelita Brasil, defended in her vote the conviction of Arruda and Deputy Jaqueline Roriz (PMN-DF), who received the same sentence. The lawyers tried to annul the conviction alleging curtailment of defense and other illegalities, but without success.
Although he has been disqualified under the Clean Slate Law, Arruda's defense argues that he can still run in the elections. This is because the candidate has already submitted his registration to the Regional Electoral Court (TRE), which would guarantee him the right to compete in the election. However, since the registration has not yet been approved, there is an understanding that he could become ineligible in this year's elections.
In a press conference held this Thursday, Arruda stated that he will maintain his candidacy: "I am a candidate for governor of the Federal District within the framework established by Brazilian law," he said.
"It is important to emphasize that only an attachment to empty formalism, devoid of meaning and directly contrary to the most legitimate desires of Brazilian society in the fight against corruption and to the most significant constitutional principles, can recognize that the Clean Record Law only applies to decisions made before the registration of candidacies," says the lawsuit signed by the president of PSOL-DF, Juliana Selbach, as well as the party's candidate for governor, Toninho do PSOL, and for the Senate, Aldemario Araújo.
The lawsuit further states that Arruda's presence as a candidate in the 2014 elections "is a cause for concern and shame for the people of Brasília." "The audacious and presumptuous participation of the main architect of the DEM's mensalão scandal and other deleterious practices of administrative misconduct in the electoral process defies the most basic standards of ethics and morality in the handling of public affairs," the document says.
For the crime of administrative misconduct, Arruda was sentenced to the loss of his political rights for eight years, in addition to reimbursing 300.000 reais to public coffers. According to the Public Prosecutor's Office, which filed charges in court, depending on the type of contract to be signed with the government, the division of bribes could reach 10% for secretaries, 30% for Arruda, and 20% for Paulo Octavio, then vice-governor of the Federal District. According to the indictment, the payments to those involved were regular and, in some cases, monthly.