Aécio Neves says Bruno Covas is "obsessed" with him.
"With so many problems to face, and I hope he can overcome them, it's quite curious how fixated the mayor of São Paulo is on issues involving me," said Aécio Neves.
247 - Federal deputy Aécio Neves (PSDB-MG) responded, through a statement, to the declarations of the mayor of São Paulo, Bruno Covas, who used Aécio's case to downplay the Lava Jato operation against José Serra, accused by the Federal Public Prosecutor's Office of receiving bribes and money laundering.
"There is no audio of Senator José Serra asking anyone for money," said the mayor of São Paulo, referring to a conversation between Aécio Neves and Joesley Batista of JBS, in which he asks for R$ 2 million that were delivered to an aide.
"With so many problems to face, and I hope he can overcome them, it's curious how fixated the mayor of São Paulo is on issues involving me," said Aécio, who is waging an internal battle to remain in the party after the allegations. The São Paulo branch has requested his expulsion.
Aécio reiterated that the money he asked Joesley for was a "loan" and that the recording was made "illegally."
"Regarding Senator José Serra, whom we all respect, we trust that he can prove the correctness of his actions in court. Moreover, the presumption of innocence is guaranteed in the Constitution, which the grandfather of the current mayor of São Paulo helped to write, and it should apply to everyone, not just those closest to him. And above all, it should be respected even by those who insist on not stepping down from the campaign trail," he added.