He was heard planning a bid to block a major corruption investigation.
In a country that has been racked with political scandals, the leaking of a video featuring Planning Minister, Romero Juca only exacerbates the volatile situation in Brazil. In the video, he is heard conspiring to cease the ongoing enquiry into the state-owned oil firm, Petrobas’ corruption allegations, by impeaching currently suspended President Dilma Rousseff.
Ms. Rousseff, who was impeached when she was found to have tampered with the state’s books to lower down budget figures ahead of the 2014 elections, has time and again called the process a ‘political coup’ to fortify senior politicians named in the Petrobas scam and Mr. Juca’s actions have further strengthened her beliefs.
However, Mr. Juca claims that his comments have been contextually manipulated. In the transcript derived from the audio, Mr. Juca says that he believes the impeachment to be necessary so as to “staunch the bleeding” and produce the “political pact” that is important to “stop everything and limit things”, which political analysts have deciphered as an attempt to stop the investigation in the Petrobas scandal.
Moreover, Mr. Juca says in the video, “I am talking to the generals, the military commanders. They are fine with this, they say they will guarantee it,” which supporters of Ms. Rousseff have perceived as a proof of the alleged ‘coup’. Mr. Juca was in conversation with Sergio Machado, director of the state transportation company Transpetro.
Furthermore, Mr. Juca did not attempt to rubbish the contents of the video and went on to say that he was talking about the Brazilian economy an not the Petrobas scandal. In fact, he commented that it was public information that he was supporting the impeachment. He stated, ” There is nothing wrong in being investigated – there is something wrong in being charged. I have never done anything to complicate the investigation.”
Several senior lawmakers have been found guilty of involvement in the massive bribery and extortion scam, three of whom are ministers who took over at the beginning of May under the acting President Michel Temer, who took over after the impeachment. Most importantly, Mr. Juca happens to be the Vice President of President Temer’s PMDB party, while also being the core commencer of the impeachment.
While the people have been constantly protesting against Mr. Temer’s government, this exit of his closest aide further tests his assurance of staying out of the investigation.
Source: BBC
Tags: Brazil Brazil crisis Brazil minister Romero Juca Romero Juca steps down
