Solon Brochado: New developments in the Castro-Lula front. First, the Cuban government has officially denied that it donated US$ 3 million for Lula’s campaign. The opposition, on the other hand, sees the opportunity for a new attack on the Workers’ Party, and intends to broaden their front even more.
Cuba denies US$ 3 million donation to the PT
The Cuban government this saturday denied having sent US$ 3 million for Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva’s presidential campaign, as reported in “Veja” magazine.
On a note released in Havana, the Cuban government says it is a piece of slandering and asserts it never interfered with Brazilian internal affairs. “The Cuban government blames this propagandistic maneuver on the agressive imperialist plans against Cuba and Lula.”
According to the note, the accusation “was made in advance of the north-american president George W. Bush’s arrival in Brazil. The objective is to change focus from the ever bigger problems he is facing, pressed by corruption investigations on important leaders of his party and among his closer circle of collaborators”.
The accusation was also denied by the Cuban embassador in Brazil, Pedro Núñez Mosquera. To him, “those who orchestrated this campaign of lies on Cuba and the Brazilian government seek to endanger the bilateral relations among the two countries, characterized by fraternal dialogue, mutual respect, and not interfering with our nations’ internal affairs”.
Meanwhile, the opposition says the matter will be taken to the Public Ministry, the Electoral Justice and the Bingos‘ CPI. The PSDB leader, sen. Arthur Virgílio, says all those mentioned by the Veja piece will be called to testify on Congress.
Opposition prepares action to undermine the PT
Opposition leaders have promised to intensify their dispute against the PT and file complaints at the Public Ministry, the Electoral Justice and the Bingos’ CPI in regard of the denouncement that the campaign that elected president Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva received resources from Cuba.
For that, they warn about the possibility of canceling the party’s register and the following impossibility of any petista’s election in 2006, in case the accusations are true.
The PSDB senate leader, sen. Arthur Virgílio (AM), said the opposition will summon all those mentioned in the Veja piece to testify at the Bingos’ CPI.
“The accusation is very serious. I’m not preaching for precipitation, but I will want to hear those mentioned before the Bingos’ CPI. We will also file a representation at the Public Ministry and the Electoral Justice. The legislation doesn’t allow the use of foreign money in campaigns. That can lead to the cancellation of their register”.
The PSDB leader in the Representatives’ Chamber, rep. Alberto Goldman (SP), also defends the opening of an investigation process at the Public Ministry. It is his understanding, just like Virgílio’s, that, in the event of a cancellation of the PT’s register, that petistas won’t be able to run for any office in 2006.
“On monday we’ll evaluate what Congress can do. If it is confirmed, the PT will lose its register and, as the cutoff for next election’s affiliation is already due, its affiliates won’t be able to run”, he said.
On the hypothesis of the PT’s extinction, Virgílio said that “would be a bad thing”: “The population has the right to give PT an electoral beating. First, it was the underwear’s dirty money, now it is drunk money”, said the PSDB leader, referring to the fact that the money, allegedly, came to Brazil in boxes of rum and whisky.
Senator Eduardo Paes (RJ) is another toucan who thinks the possibility of an “extinction” of the PT is a bad thing for the PSDB: “It is bad for the whole country. It could make room for demagogic leaderships”.
“Fanciful”
Senator Eduardo Suplicy (PT-SP) considered the accusation “fanciful” and said he had never heard anything about it. He said, though, that “president Lula should take the appropriate measures to ensure truth comes out without obstacles”.
“The PT must be the first to collaborate in bringing the truth to light”, be it to prove or deny the Veja piece.
As for what ministry Palocci should do, he said: “In his place, I’d be readily making myself available to come before the National Congress, even without being summoned”.
Another one who demanded the PT and president Lula clear up the denouncement was rep. Roberto Freire (PPS-PE).
“If up until now Lula thought he could omit himself and pose as the good guy, this time he can’t”.
The congressman also said that “for the good of Brazilian democracy”, he’d rather that it was all denied and proved to be something fanciful: “In order not to further inflate sectors on the right. It is enough the tarnishing he made, linking the left to corruption”, he reacted.
Freire also made a warning for the government not to follow the “script adopted so far and that has nothing right”, of only defending itself after the political damages have been confirmed.
