After a new operation by the PF (Federal Police) targeting parliamentarians, the president of the Chamber of Deputies, Hugo Motta (Republicanos-PB), stated this Friday (19) that it is the role of the Judiciary to investigate suspicions. He stated, however, that it is up to the House to monitor “exaggerations” and act to “prevent possible abuses”.
According to Hugo Motta, there needs to be a clear “line” of division between what is investigation and what is “exaggeration, from the point of view of decisions”.
“We will continue in this way, with great balance, with great seriousness, positioning the Chamber firmly to prevent possible abuses that may occur. That is our role, but, I repeat, we have no commitment to protecting what is not correct. If there is suspicion, let it be investigated. If it is guilty, let it be punished. Because that is the role of the Judiciary, that is the role of our control bodies”, he said in a coffee with journalists.
Hugo Motta avoided commenting on parliamentarians this Friday. He declared that he did not make “prejudgments” about investigations of parliamentarians and stated that he had been warned, by telephone, about the operation by the director general of the Federal Police, Andrei Rodrigues.
“The Supreme Court is in charge of investigating. We have bodies that assist the Supreme Court, the Federal Public Ministry, the Federal Police, the CGU [Controladoria-Geral da União]are there to be able to monitor all these matters involving investigations by parliamentarians and, in fact, the Supreme Court in this aspect has to fulfill its role as the Judiciary”, he said.
For Hugo Motta, it is up to the presidency of the Chamber to monitor possible “exacerbations” and act with dialogue, which he classified as the “best path”. In his view, any “exaggerations” by the Powers are not positive for the country.
“I think this line needs to be established. Because when there is exaggeration, whether by the Supreme Court or by the Legislative Branch itself, at any point in the relationship, this is bad for the country. I repeat, we respect the role of the Supreme Court, we have no commitment to those who do not work correctly. And we will always monitor the Presidency of the Chamber so that exaggerations are not committed”, he declared.
Regarding the institutional performance of the STF, the president of the Chamber stated that there is a relationship of respect and dialogue with Congress. He said, however, that it is “natural” for there to be differences between the Powers.
“The Chamber has no commitment to protecting what is not correct. The Chamber of Deputies does not have this function, much less the president. Of course, when we have a colleague who is the target of any action in the Judiciary, whatever it may be, we are not happy about it. Nobody is happy about it, but the Judiciary is fulfilling its role and we are not going to be here defending what cannot be defended”, he stated.
