Temer denies deal with former presidents to avoid legal consequences of scandal

In an interview to Jovem Pan radio on Monday (April 17), Brazil's President Michel Temer denied plotting an “alliance” with former presidents Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva and Fernando Henrique Cardoso in an attempt to avoid the legal consequences of “Operation Car Wash” corruption probe on Brazil's political class. He also referred to calls for a new constituent assembly specifically to discuss a political and a tax reform for the country as “useful”.

“Operation Car Wash” is a corruption investigation headed by Brazil's Federal Police that has led to widespread raids, searches, bench warrants, and detentions of suspects as investigators push to uncover the facts about a massive kickback and money laundering scandal.

“I don't engage in, or lead, nor have I ever been questioned about, any such thing [political deals to avoid prosecution],” he said. “Former president Fernando Henrique Cardoso himself says there are no such dealings—and that's true. What did happen was, when I was visiting former president Lula because of what happened to him [the death of Lula's wife Mariza Letícia], he said, quoting Cardoso, that we needed to talk about the political reform. About this [the political reform specifically] it's something that could be arranged. But that's all, it's nothing to do with what's happening in the country now.”

During the interview, Temer dismissed the accusations that emerged from the plea bargain testimonies obtained from former executives of Odebrecht construction company—a government contractor deeply implicated in the Car Wash scandal—as “shocking, disagreeable, and upsetting,” and that—at least as far as he was concerned—they were not true. He said he was annoyed to hear his name had been brought up in connection with the scandal “because it is a lie.”

Translated by Mayra Borges