Brazil Senate head says prosecutors should “put end to exhibitionism”

Renan Calheiros, president of the Brazilian Senate, said Tuesday (Sep. 20) that Operation Car Wash represents “civilizing progress,” but added, however, that one must separate the “wheat from the chaff” and put an end to “exhibitionism.”

As an example, Calheiros mentioned the charges against former president Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, submitted last week by prosecutors as part of the operation. On the occasion, Federal Prosecutor Deltan Dallagnol dubs Lula the “maximum commander in the corruption scheme unveiled by Car Wash.”

Prosecutors have “the responsibility to separate the wheat from the chaff and must put an end to the exhibitionism we saw in the incident with [former] President Lula as well as other incidents. Charges have to be consistent.”

“This undermines the prestige of the Prosecution Service and forces the National Congress to think about legislation to ensure guarantees and facilitate investigations,” he went on to say.

Renan Calheiros, who is also targeted in the police crackdown, reiterated that the operation is crucial to the country. “Nothing will stop Operation Car Wash, but the operation must end this process of exposing people without an established fault. Charges must be consistent, and not filed for political mobilization. That is detrimental to the country and the institutions,” he concluded.

Translated by Fabrício Ferreira