Document, validated by the board on the 10th, needs the consent of the mayor, Hugo Motta (Republicans-PB), to be sent to PGR
The Public Security Commission of the House of Representatives approved an application requesting the Attorney General’s Office (PGR) an investigation against the President (PT) for statements that allegedly indicate interference in the findings of the fraud of the National Institute of Social Security (). The document, validated by the board on the 10th, needs the consent of the mayor, Hugo Motta (Republicans-PB), to be sent to PGR. Motta is in “unofficial recess” for the festivities of St. John in Paraíba, the political and electoral stronghold of the deputy. The report tried to contact the president of the house, but got no response.
The request for investigation was filed by federal deputy Evair de Melo (PP-ES), which maintains that President Lula made statements suggesting interference in the Federal Police (PF) and Union Comptroller (PF) investigations on the INSS scandal. The craft refers to a press conference granted by Lula on June 3, in which the president says he has asked for “caution” from the PF and the CGU so that there was no “crucifixion” of the investigated entities.
“In an interview granted on June 3, 2025, the President of the Republic expressly stated that he oriented the PF and the CGU to act with ‘a lot of caution’ so that there were no ‘crucifications’ of investigated entities. At the same press conference, the petista said that the institutions that committed infractions’ will have to pay the price’, ‘says the text.
For the Public Security Commission, “although apparent discourse prudence, in practice it constitutes a veiled form of embarrassing control bodies to slow, condition or relativize ongoing findings, contrary to the requirement of exemption and technical autonomy that governs the work of these organs”, as mentioned by the letter.
The document also emphasizes the involvement of Lula’s brother, José Ferreira da Silva, known as Friar Chico. Although not formally charged, Frei Chico is director of the National Union of Retirees, Pensioners and the Elderly (Sindnapi), one of the main entities investigated in the Operation Without Discount, which investigates the use of Retired and Pensioners of the INSS to operate improper discounts on paychecks without their knowledge.
For opposition deputies, Frei Chico’s involvement with one of the investigated entities demonstrates a possible conflict of interest of President Lula in the investigations of INSS fraud. “The president’s interference, by advising caution in investigations, can be interpreted as an attempt to protect personal and family interests, compromising the credibility of the institutions responsible for the supervision and punishment of those responsible for such irregularities,” says the craft.
INSS Frauds
In April, the Federal Police (PF) launched the operation without discount. The estimated amount in irregular charges total R $ 6.3 billion between 2019 and 2024, according to the corporation. But if the date is retroactive until 2016, this amount rises to almost $ 8 billion regarding discounts without authorization. The Lula administration had already been warned of the fraud shot before the PF operation. Documents show that the alerts came from the Federal Court of Audit (TCU), the Comptroller General of the Union (CGU), the Public Prosecution Service, the National Council of Social Security and Auditors of the INSS itself.
On the 17th, the Senator (União Brasil-AP), president of Congress, authorized the opening of a Mixed Parliamentary Commission of Inquiry (CPMI) to investigate the fraud of undue discounts in the INSS. After the installation is authorized, the INSS CPMI has moved to the member indication stage. There will be 30 members: 15 federal deputies and 15 senators. The deadline for CPMI’s work is 180 days, with the possibility of extension. Collegiate costs are estimated at $ 200,000.
*With information from Estadão Content
Posted by Fernando Dias
