Itaipu Binacional and Petrobras together allocated R$33.5 million to Janjapalooza, as the Aliança Global Festival became informally known, and other events taking place during the G20 forum.
The event, created by the first lady, Janja Lula da Silva, will bring together 30 attractions with national names such as Alceu Valença, Ney Matogrosso, Daniela Mercury, Fafá de Belém and Zeca Pagodinho. All artists at the festival will receive a “symbolic fee” of R$30,000, according to the press office of the Ministry of Culture, a partner in organizing the event. Therefore, in total, R$900,000 will be paid in fees only.
Itaipu Binacional is responsible for sponsoring R$15 million for the Festival, the Social Summit and parallel events to close the G20. The decision authorizing the sponsorship was published alongside the list of sponsorships granted in October. Unlike most other sponsorships on the list, which have values of a maximum of R$100,000, the decision that authorized the sponsorship came from a Resolution of the Executive Board.
Between 2005 and 2020, Janja worked at Itaipu as assistant to the then general director, Jorge Samek. Currently, Itaipu is led by the PT member, former federal deputy for Paraná, Enio Verri.
Petrobras informed the People’s Gazette which signed a Cooperation Agreement worth R$18.5 million related to the Festival, the Leaders’ Summit, the Social Summit and meetings and events parallel to the G20. “Participation in the International Cooperation Agreement was due to affinities between the company and central themes discussed at the G20, such as building a more sustainable planet, through economic, social and environmental developments. Petrobras understands that this initiative is in line with the positioning of a leading company in the fair energy transition”, states the note sent to the report.
Other public or state-owned companies are also on the list of supporters of Janjapalooza, which will take place in Rio de Janeiro between the 14th and 16th of November.
A People’s Gazette tried to contact BNDES, Banco do Brasil, Caixa and Serpro, but did not receive feedback on the form of support or the amounts allocated to the event until the closing of this article. The Ministry of Culture was also questioned by the report about the support, but did not respond.
“Janjapalooza” will have free access and will be held in Praça Mauá, in the Port Zone of the capital of Rio de Janeiro with “important artists from Brazil to promote engagement and discussion about the main brand of the Brazilian presidency of the G20”, the Global Alliance against Hunger and Poverty. According to the federal government, the festival was inspired by international concerts such as Live Aid 1985 and the Free Nelson Mandela Concert 1988, both held in England.
Deputy wants TCU to investigate Janjapalooza
Representative Sanderson (PL-RS) sent the president of the Federal Court of Auditors (TCU), Bruno Dantas, a request for an investigation to verify the legality of public spending on the Aliança Global Festival, “Janjapalooza”.
For the deputy, it is not feasible that, in the face of an economic crisis that is plaguing the country, even requiring spending cuts and the adoption of fiscal austerity measures, that there is an expenditure of public resources in large amounts to pay fees to artists . “Fact violates the principle of legality, efficiency and public morality”, pointed out Sanderson.
