The president (PT) adopted a cautious tone when questioned this Thursday (7) about the Master case.
In an interview with journalists, Lula avoided mentioning the parliamentarian’s name and said he hoped that all those investigated were innocent.
“Do you realize that it’s difficult to talk about something when I’m here [nos EUA] and it happened in Brazil. There was a decision by Minister André Mendonça that the operation should take place, it was carried out. The Federal Police complied with a court decision. I hope that all the people investigated are innocent,” said the president.
This Thursday, the PF carried out search and seizure warrants at addresses in Nogueira in a new phase of , which investigates suspicions of corruption, money laundering and crimes against the financial system linked to . The action was authorized by the minister of the STF, and also resulted in the temporary arrest of Felipe Vorcaro, cousin of the bank owner.
Among the suspicions investigated are monthly payments of up to R$500,000 to the senator, the presentation of the so-called “Master amendment”—which would expand FGC coverage from R$250,000 to R$1 million per depositor—and the funding of Nogueira’s personal expenses, such as accommodation, jet flights and restaurants.
Behind the scenes, however, Planalto’s calculation is different from the public tone adopted by Lula.
Ministers and assistants to the president claim that the government intends to use the operation as electoral ammunition against Nogueira. The order for now is to avoid direct attacks so as not to associate the investigation with the president—the fact that Lula is in the USA was even celebrated by a minister, who assessed that “the further away, the better”.
At the end of last year, he had approached Lula and the governor of Piauí, Rafael Fonteles (PT), asking both sides to avoid mutual attacks with mention of the Master case. The president’s allies say no guarantees were given.
