Chamber of Deputies commission convokes Antonio Palocci

Government allies in Congress have been busy protecting the powerful presidential Chief of Staff, Antonio Palocci, from testifying before congressional commissions after it was revealed that he made millions as a consultant before becoming a minister of state. The opposition attempted to pass motions summoning the minister in the Financial Control and Inspection Commission, the Science and Technology Commission and the Urban Development Commission, but each attempt was rebuffed by deputies allied with the administration.

However, yesterday, in a parliamentary maneuver (“manobra regimental”) that caught the government off guard, the Farm Commission in the Chamber of Deputies approved a motion to convoke the presidential Chief of Staff (“ministro-chefe da Casa Civil”). The terms of the convocation call on the minister to explain his activities as a consultant during the time when he was a federal deputy before he joined the Dilma Rousseff cabinet. It is reported that Palocci made more than R$20 million during the period 2006 to 2010.

“They were sleeping,” complained Julio Delgado (PSB-MG), referring to the government allies who were present and in the majority when the motion slipped through the Farm Commission at a moment when it was presided over by the commission chairman, an opposition deputy, Lira Maia (DEM-PA).

Of course, the government will try to reverse the decision and may be able to do so through other parliamentary maneuvers. In fact, the president of the lower house, Marco Maia (PT-RS), immediately began moving to do just that by postponing any effects of the vote until next week.

Meanwhile, the president of the Federal Bar Association (“QAB”), Ophir Cavalcante, has called on Palocci to resign or be removed immediately so that his sudden rise to extreme wealth can be investigated.