PT Chairman defends fighting corruption, but questions job of Operation Car Wash

National Chairman of Workers' Party (PT) Rui Falcão defended on Tuesday (Aug. 4) fighting corruption, but he questioned the job of Operation Car Wash. He claimed that his party is being harmed during proceedings.

“The relentless fight against corruption must continue, but it shouldn't be selective. It should happen without media spectacle, without reversing the burden of proof, without preventive imprisonment working as coercion to force bargain deal,” noted Falcão.

In a press conference at the party headquarters in Brasília, Falcão mentioned that the party suffers a process of  “criminalization” from some society sectors. “As always we face endeavors to criminalize our party made by conservative sectors, media monopoly and some opposition parties,  in order to weaken President Dilma Rousseff's government and reach the popularity of [former] President Lula.”

The PT's Chairman statements came a day after the arrest of José Dirceu, former Chief of Staff and former chairman of PT, during Operation Car Wash. Falcão added that nobody is guilty until the proof is presented.

“We are not abandoning any companion. But in spite of that, we shouldn't call for guilty. To me, anyone charged, not only Zé Dirceu, is innocent until proven guilty.”

In the interview, Falcão said that several street protests with PT participation will happen in August. Among them, there is March of Daisies (Marcha das Margaridas in Portuguese, a caravan of rural workers towards Brasília), on August 11 and 12, and the National Act for Education on August 14. The latter, also set in Brasília, shall have the presence of Lula.

Two days after the Act for Education, a national protest against Rousseff's government is scheduled. Regading this protest, Falcão mentioned, “They have the right to protest. I hope it happens without violence and without depredations.”

Translated by Amarílis Anchieta