Deputies also criticize Lula's preventive detention request

The São Paulo state prosecutors' request for the preventive detention of former President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva (Workers' Party – PT)  and six other people for the alleged crimes of money laudering and identity fraud was criticized Thursday (Mar. 10) by deputies in the governing coalition and by the opposition for lack of legal arguments to justify the order.

Deputy Carlos Sampaio, vice-president of the Brazilian Social Democracy Party (PSDB), Brazil's largest opposition party, said that São Paulo state prosecutors rushed to make the order. "The elements that I have so far do not lead me to believe that he [Lula] is blocking the criminal investigation [or] interfering in criminal proceedings," stated Sampaio, who is also state prosecutor in São Paulo.

Another important opposition exponent, Deputy Mendonça Filho, member of the Democratas party (DEM), defended the investigations, but said he did not have enough information yet to take up a stance. "I'm not able to express a technical opinion on this arrest order, but the former president is a citizen like any other, who can and must be investigated," he said.

Pro-government deputies have also declared to be outraged at the São Paulo state prosecutors' order. The government's vice leader in the lower house, Paulo Teixeira, said on a social network that the request has no grounds and was a provocation. "This is political measure on the protests' eve [of the 13]," he said. According to him, the moment "calls for responsibility."

The Workers' Party (PT) leader, Afonso Florence, also wrote on social networks and said that it is "a shame that irresponsible prosecutores tarnish the image of such an important institution as São Paulo state prosecution office".

For the government's leader in the lower house, José Guimarães (member of PT), the arrest order was an act of "legal thoughtlessness." He considers it a serious threat to individual rights and guarantees. "Anyone who appreciate and respect the rule of democratic state must stand up against the inherent risks in this legal aberration," he mentioned.

Translated by Amarílis Anchieta

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