The government base in the Senate gathered the necessary number of signatures to request the opening of a parliamentary commission of inquiry (CPI) to investigate possible irregularities in public works started and not completed between 2006 and 2018. leader of the PL in the Senate, Carlos Portinho (PL-RJ).
The CPI requested by Portinho also wants to investigate possible irregularities in the Student Financing Program (FIES) in the same period. According to the application, information about alleged irregularities in works and in the FIES emerged during the testimony of the president of the National Fund for the Development of Education (FNDE), Marcelo Lopes da Ponte, at the Senate Education Commission.
“He informed that the transfer of funds ends up being hampered by the existence of works started a long time ago, and, for various reasons, never completed. We need, therefore, to go deep into this issue, which would be the real cause to be embraced by this House”, stated Portinho in his request.
Along with the document, 28 signatures were delivered subscribing to the request for opening the CPI. The minimum number is 27. Senators from parties at the base of the government and senators from centrist parties signed the application.
The Education Commission has focused on investigating alleged episodes of corruption in the Ministry of Education (MEC). Lopes da Ponte’s testimony took place in this context, since the FNDE is linked to the MEC. Some testimonies dealt with suspicions of corruption in the ministry, including mayors of three municipalities who claimed to have had contact with evangelical pastors who, according to them, asked bribe payment in exchange for release of MEC funds.
Portinho’s request was presented in the midst of an attempt by the opposition bench to the government in the Senate, led by Senator Randolfe Rodrigues (Rede-AP), to launch a CPI to investigate the MEC. He even claimed to have the necessary 27 signatures, but some senators decided to withdraw their signature from the application.
