“The ten anti-corruption measures no longer exist,” says Prosecutor-General

Brazil's Prosecutor-General Rodrigo Janot criticized the changes made by federal deputies to the original text of the bill on the Ten Measures Against Corruption, a popular bill backed by the Public Prosecution Office. In Janot's view, the changes set the country “on a backward march in the fight against corruption.” “The 10 anti-corruption measures no longer exist,” he argued.

The bill was approved in the early hours by the lower house, with amendments to Onyx Lorenzoni's report and a number of alterations to the moves proposed by the Prosecution Service.

Retaliation

In a note to the press, Janot says that the Brazilian Prosecution Service does not back the changes. “The 10 anti-corruption measures no longer exist. The Brazilian Public Prosecution Service does not support the current text, a mere shadow of the proposals which would bring us closer to good international practices. The Prosecution Service will continue to serve the Brazilian people in the fight against the siphoning-off of public funds and the deprivation of the hope for a better country for us all,” he said.

In the demonstration, Janot further stated that the changes are “clearly retaliatory moves,” and urged society to call for the bill to be rejected by senators, where it is to be submitted to vote.

“If the records are anything to go by, the vote on the 10 Measures in the lower house should show that the best there was in the bill was removed and that clearly retaliatory moves were added. Also worthy of note is that the approved bill aims to weaken and intimidate both the Public Prosecution Office and the Judiciary branch.”

Supreme Court

Earlier on, Supreme Court Chief Justice Cármen Lúcia also issued a note regretting the approval of the criminalization of abuse of power for judges and prosecutors by the Chamber of Deputies.

Translated by Fabrício Ferreira