The Director-General of the Federal Police (PF), Andrei Rodrigues, stated this Monday (15) that the institution does not take into account the “political stature of anyone” when investigating irregularities in parliamentary amendments and said that “all links” related to Operation Transparency will be investigated .
“We will calmly, seriously, and responsibly investigate all links in this process, the participation of whomever it may be. We are not looking at political, economic, cultural, or social standing,” said the director of the Federal Police.
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Rodrigues received journalists for breakfast at the PF headquarters in Brasília and, after presenting a summary of the year, was questioned about the operation, which was launched last Friday (12) to investigate irregularities in the so-called “secret budget”, as the use of amendments that did not allow the identification of the political sponsor or the final beneficiary of the money became known, which in theory favors irregularities.
The operation primarily targeted Mariângela Fialek, known as “Tuca ,” a legislative employee who served as a close advisor to Congressman Arthur Lira (PP-AL) when he presided over the Chamber, a period during which there was a significant increase in the use of amendments of this type, such as rapporteur amendments (known by the acronym RP9) and others, such as committee and caucus amendments.
“So we are investigating all stages, whether there was compromise at the source, whether there was an intermediary, whether there was a member of parliament or not. We are investigating seriously and calmly. We will investigate all links,” Rodrigues added regarding the case. Lira himself, however, is not yet listed as a suspect.
>>Dino orders CGU to expand analysis of amendments to the secret budget.
According to the decision of Minister Flávio Dino of the Supreme Federal Court (STF), who authorized the Federal Police to enter the Chamber of Deputies and the employee’s residence to conduct searches and seizures, investigations indicate that she carried out a “continuous, systematic and structured role” in organizing and releasing the secret budget.
In his conversation with journalists, Rodrigues also stated that the Federal Police remains “unwavering in the face of political pressure from anyone.” He also criticized the “personalization” of the investigations into parliamentary amendments.
During the meeting, Rodrigues also criticized legislators who speak out against organized crime, but when it comes time to vote, they take the opposite stance.
“It’s no use being tough on organized crime, ending temporary release programs, and at the same time not approving important projects that are being processed in the National Congress. We need everyone to be responsible for confronting it,” he said.
He denied, however, that the investigations into parliamentary amendments signify a “witch hunt” against a specific group and stated that the Federal Police are concerned with “not criminalizing the amendment itself nor political activity.” He concluded by stating that “the [parliamentary] amendment is a legitimate, legal instrument that needs to be used in accordance with the rules.”
Rodrigues avoided revealing how many investigations are currently open at the Federal Police related to parliamentary amendments. Currently, various investigations are proceeding under seal, scattered across several offices of the Supreme Court, all focused on the suspected involvement of parliamentarians in the misappropriation of amendment funds.
