Chamber Commission summons Chancellor to explain Lula’s visit to Cristina Kirchner

The Foreign Relations Commission of the House of Representatives approved on Wednesday (9) the summons of Chancellor Mauro Vieira to provide clarification on the visit of President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva (PT) to former Argentine president Cristina Kirchner, currently in house arrest for corruption.

The request, authored by parliamentarians from the Novo Party, represents a political defeat for the Planalto Palace, amid international wear and tear generated by the diplomatic gesture.

In addition to the call, the deputies approved a motion of repudiation to the conduct of Lula and the Minister of Foreign Affairs. The president visited Kirchner last week, during a pass through Buenos Aires to the Mercosur summit, and shared images and messages of support to former peronist leader on their social networks.

For opposition parliamentarians, the gesture represents a “impunity tour” and compromises Itamaraty’s credibility.

“Given these absurdities, we will summon Chancellor Mauro Vieira to explain why Brazilian foreign policy has become a route of solidarity between corrupt,” said Deputy Marcel Van Hattem (Novo-RS).

Criticism of Conduct

The authors of the request state that Lula and Vieira acted in disagreement with the institutional mission of Brazilian diplomacy.

“Itamaraty should represent the permanent interests of the state, not parties or circumstantial leaders,” the deputies wrote, criticizing involvement with “ideological affinities” and “selective solidarity.”

The presidency of the commission is currently with Deputy Filipe Barros (PL-PR), replacing Eduardo Bolsonaro (PL-SP), who walked away after traveling to the US. The commission has been used as a government -coping platform by members of the Bolsonarist opposition.

Mauro Vieira’s call has no date yet, but tends to deepen the tension between government and opposition in Brazilian foreign policy.