José Dirceu, former minister of the Civil House of the first government of Luiz Inácio Lula da SilvaGeraldo Magela/Agência Senado
Published 04/22/2024 17:33
Active again on the political scene in the third term of President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, former Minister of the Civil House José Dirceu, convicted of the mensalão and Lava Jato, does not rule out a candidacy for federal deputy in 2026. In conversation with journalists after the event in São Paulo this Monday, the 22nd, the PT member said that returning to the Chamber of Deputies is a “matter of justice” and that he will make the decision about being a candidate, together with the party, in the second half of next year.
“Even for justice, I believe I deserve to return to the Chamber. I was impeached without any proof, to remove me from the country’s political and institutional life”, he declared. Dirceu argues that he lost his mandate as deputy under accusations of being a “gang leader” in the Mensalão scandal, but the conviction was reversed by the Federal Supreme Court (STF) in 2016, and that, for this reason, he would have to be “amnesty ” by parliamentarians.
Under the Clean Record Law, Dirceu is ineligible and cannot take up public office. The former deputy’s defense, led by lawyer Roberto Podval, filed a petition with the STF in January to annul all Lava Jato convictions. The case is with Minister Gilmar Mendes.
While awaiting the outcome of the case, Dirceu makes a move to return to political life. In early April, he was in Congress again after 19 years to participate in a special Senate ceremony in memory of the 60th anniversary of the 1964 coup and in defense of democracy. According to Estadão, the rehabilitation movement has the approval of the head of the Executive, but causes apprehension in PT wings.
He also promises to act only as a “militant” in the 2024 electoral campaign, including the city of São Paulo, where the PT signed an alliance with federal deputy Guilherme Boulos (PSOL). In practice, however, Dirceu has helped to form alliances. The former PT president was one of those who spoke with Marta Suplicy before she accepted Lula’s invitation to return to the party and be vice-president of Boulos’ ticket in the race for Mayor of São Paulo.
“I want to participate in the renewal of the PT leadership. My main objective is to help, behind the scenes, President Lula to govern Brazil. In 2025, in the second half of the year, I will make a decision about running for elected office in 2026.”
At this Monday’s event, promoted by Esfera Brasil, Dirceu also criticized “religious fundamentalism” in politics, in a direct reference to the tone adopted in the demonstrations called by former president Jair Bolsonaro (PL) and organized by the evangelical pastor Silas Malafaia. According to him, this practice gains strength with an alignment with the international right and needs to be combated.
“We already know this in history, and it ends very badly, usually in civil war. It is very serious to use the name of God for political and power disputes, to want to transform Brazil into a theocratic state.” During the debate, he also stated that Lula does not seek polarization and has set up a “center-right” government, a statement that, according to him, usually generates “indignation” within the PT.
Remember the convictions
On December 1, 2005, José Dirceu had his mandate revoked after being appointed as the person responsible for leading the scheme for paying bribes to parliamentarians, the monthly allowance. The illegal money was paid to congressmen to support projects during President Lula’s first term.
In 2012, the STF sentenced Dirceu to ten years and ten months in prison for forming a gang and active corruption for the monthly allowance. The statement by the Federal Public Ministry (MPF) that originated the sentence considered that the former deputy was the “leader of the gang” responsible for the political support purchase scheme
Dirceu’s name was also involved in investigations into embezzlement of public resources from state-owned companies. In August 2015, he was preventively arrested by Operation Lava Jato. The following year, former judge Sergio Moro sentenced the former minister to 23 years and three months in prison for corruption, money laundering and criminal organization.
The former deputy was released in November 2019, following a decision by the 1st Criminal Execution Court of Curitiba. Another decision in favor of Dirceu occurred in February last year, when the Superior Court of Justice (STJ) reduced Dirceu’s sentence in the petrolão to four years and seven months in an open regime.
In 2016, Dirceu benefited from a decision by STF minister Luís Roberto Barroso, who annulled the PT member’s conviction for the monthly allowance scandal. He is now trying to annul the Lava Jato convictions to have a clear path to a possible candidacy in the 2026 elections.
