Brazilian Federal Prosecutor's Office responds to editorial in which Estado calls Lava Jato a 'political party'

Paraná 247 - The Federal Public Prosecutor's Office in Paraná released a statement on Tuesday, the 24th, rebutting... Editorial in which the newspaper O Estado de S. Paulo criticizes Operation Lava Jato. 

"The assertion that Lava Jato is transforming into a political party is mistaken, because the editorialist of this newspaper confuses the defense of the democratic regime, a constitutional function conferred upon the Public Prosecutor's Office by the Federal Constitution, with the prohibition of political-partisan activity by its members," the statement says. 

"Gradually, Lava Jato, which is heading into its fourth year, is ceasing to be an operation against a corruption scheme in state-owned companies and government agencies and is transforming itself into a political party," says the editorial in Estadão. 

Read the full text:

"The Public Prosecutor's Office cannot shirk its constitutional responsibility."

The Lava Jato task force at the Federal Public Prosecutor's Office in Paraná (MPF/PR), in response to the editorial "The Lava Jato Party" in the newspaper O Estado de S. Paulo of October 24, 2017, clarifies that:

1. The assertion that Lava Jato is transforming into a political party is incorrect, as the editorialist of this newspaper confuses the defense of the democratic regime, a constitutional function conferred upon the Public Prosecutor's Office by the Federal Constitution (article 127, caput), with the prohibition of political-party activity by its members (article 128, §5º, II, "e").

2. Democracy is a constitutional value and goes far beyond the simple expression of the will of any parliamentary majorities.

3. For democracy to exist, several requirements are necessary, the most important of which is equal opportunity for parties and politicians in elections. This implies an obligation for public authorities to curb the abuse of economic power, especially when that economic power stems from corruption and the misappropriation of public funds.

4. Investigations from Operation Lava Jato indicate that public corruption has become systemic, and the main cause of this problem is extremely expensive political-election campaigns, which leads people who control corruption schemes in various federal, state, and municipal public administration bodies and companies to dominate the party machines.

5. The Public Prosecutor's Office cannot shirk its constitutional responsibility, as the advocate of society, to clarify these conclusions for the public.

6. It does so in similar situations, such as in awareness campaigns about slave labor, the rights of children and adolescents, and other equally important topics.

7. In this sense, informing the population of the need for a conscious vote, that is, a vote that allows the restoration of a clean Democracy, with the elimination of corruption as a factor of imbalance in the electoral process, is merely the full exercise of the powers conferred upon it by the Federal Constitution.

8. And, contrary to what the editorial intends to affirm, this is not about the exercise of political-electoral activities by members of the Public Prosecutor's Office, since it is in no way indicating a preference for this or that party, or for this or that candidate, but only presenting to society the values ​​that, according to the Constitution, should prevail for the maintenance of a clean Democracy.

9. It is concluded that silencing the Public Prosecutor's Office in informing the public about its duties and activities is an attempt to impose a gag order on its members without any legal or constitutional basis.

10. Finally, discussing major national issues, including the phenomenon of corruption and its infiltration into the political apparatus, is the right of every citizen, including members of the Public Prosecutor's Office, since, except for the strict restriction of not being able to engage in partisan politics, they are not deprived of their rights as citizens.