Brazil president: Crackdown on corruption to continue

Brazil's acting President Michel Temer said Wednesday (Jun. 1) that “no one is to interfere in Operation Car Wash,” a probe into corruption schemes involving executives, politicians and officials at the state-controlled oil giant Petrobras.

“Every hour or so I read one or other news story saying [our] goal is to stop Operation Car Wash. With no hint of mockery, I say it for the nth time and: by no means can the Executive interfere in this affair,” Temer vowed.

The statement was made during the inauguration ceremony of new Petrobras CEO Pedro Parente, and new heads of the Central Bank (BC), the National Social and Economic Development Bank (BNDES), the Caixa Econômica Federal, and the Institute for Applied Economic Research (IPEA). Temer highlighted that these institutions are part of “the joint heritage of Brazilian society,” and that the new leaders fit the profile of competence and efficiency which is to become part and parcel with the government.

The interim president also said that the project the government will submit to Congress on the creation of a ceiling for curbing public spending is not to interfere in the funds earmarked for health care and education. “The percentages going towards health care and education will remain unchanged. I often hear that our administration will destroy whatever is most closely related to social sectors.”

Translated by Fabrício Ferreira