MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Corruption claims erode Lula da Silva’s control over the Senate

A private suite for intimate dates in this imposing building

The Brazilian Senate --whose president Jose Sarney has been accused of corruption--, apparently has a secret bank account operating millions of US dollars and a private “bunker” for a few, with facilities for “intimate” dates, according to reports in the Sao Paulo and Brasilia press.

A man of total trust of Senator Sarney and other senators, and head of the administrative staff of the Upper House Agaciel Maia was who opened in 1997 the secret bank account which has operations totalling 80 million US dollars that so far remain unaccounted for or how they were spent, revealed Folha de Sao Paulo.

The disclosure further complicates the situation of conservative Senator Sarney, a close ally of President Lula da Silva and whose removal or resignation has been demanded by the opposition. The funds for the account, which remain unregistered for the Brazilian Government Spending Monitoring System, apparently originated in resources for the Senate staff.

Senator Sergio Guerra from the opposition Brazilian Social Democrats said “the squandering of Senate Money is outrageous; nobody can understand why a staff of 10.000 is needed in the Upper House and the purpose of a 1.3 billion US dollars annual budget”.

Dozens of accusations have been made against Sarney who is also a former Brazilian president (1985/1990) and a vital ally of President Lula da Silva in the Upper house.

“Sarney is a lame duck; he’s lost all authority and legitimacy”, said Arthur Virgilio head of the opposition Social Democrat Senators.

Two weeks ago Lula da Silva brushed aside the criticisms arguing that the attacks on Sarney by his peers in the Senate were “a legislative issue”. However last week he was forced to get personally involved and called Sarney to his office when he promised him the support of the Workers Party benches. This in spite the fact several Senators wanted him to quit or suspended.

Apparently Lula da Silva argued that the Senate coalition between the Workers Party and the Brazilian Democratic Movement Party of Sarney was essential to have legislation passed and to reach presidential elections of October 2010.

This weekend the magazine Epoca published a report saying that the former manager of the Senate and close ally of Sarney, Agaciel Maia had ordered the construction of the “bunker” inside the Congress palace. According to the article, the 130 square metres loft had computers, flat screen television sets, erotic literature and furniture suggesting it was used for “intimate dates”.

Mr. Sarney has been president of the Senate three times since 1995 when he was first elected to the Upper House. In that time he and his close group, consolidated their political and administrative grip over the Senate, according to Epcoa.

Maciel who was administrative manager of the Senate for 14 years was forced to resign last February when it was discovered he owned a mansion valued at 2.5 million US dollars.