Chattel and Changes Exchange Mark Carlos Lupi’s audience in the Chamber

During the public hearing to hear the Minister of Social Security, Carlos Lupiopposition and base deputies exchanged accusations and starred in shouting scenes in the House Social Security Commission.

The minister even said that he felt cornered at times with the aggressiveness of parliamentarians. “But it is part of life, I already have a thick loin, I am used to the confrontation,” he said.

Deputy Marcel Van Hattem (Novo-RS) took to the commission plenary a beneficiary who, according to him, was injured by the INSS deviation scheme. The deputy demanded the minister’s resignation. In the same way, Deputy Colonel Chrisostomo (PL-RO) stated that the minister should ask to leave.

Deputy Evair de Melo (PP-RS) said he warned the ministry about undue discounts in March 2023. According to him, in April 2023 he again reported about discounts, but the minister ignored the information.

Deputies of the ruling base came in defense of the minister. Deputy Mario Heringer (PDT-MG) said Deputy Evair only worried about making accusations after four years of Bolsonaro government. Heringer accused the opposition of “turning the country into a circus, a stage for obtaining liveli” for the internet.

He also argued that the investigation has to retroact to the period of Minister Paulo Guedes (who had under his umbrella Social Security in the Bolsonaro government). According to Heringer, 67% of the frauds were committed by entities qualified in 2022.

The PT leader in the House, Deputy Lindbergh Farias (RJ), defended Minister Carlos Lupi, stating that the Federal Police report does not mention his name. And accused the opposition of wanting to create a Parliamentary Inquiry Committee (CPI) to disrupt investigations. “I believe more in a PF investigation than a CPI of Deputy Chrisóstomo,” he said. The aforementioned deputy is collecting signatures for the creation of the “Retirees Theft CPI”.