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Brazil to Impose Tougher Sentences for Electoral Crimes |
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Written by Nelson Motta
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Tuesday, 22 November 2005 |
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The President of Brazil's Federal Election Court (TSE), Minister Carlos Velloso, said Monday, November 21, that it is difficult to eliminate the use of unreported funds in electoral campaigns. He believes, though, that it is possible to reduce the problem with a new legislation.
The Minister made these declarations after handing to Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva the project outline proposing more severe punishment for electoral crimes.
For instance, the sentence for using unreported contributions would go from 2-3 years to 3-6 years in prison. The outline also suggests improvements in the expenses report system used by candidates and political parties.
According to Velloso, President Lula promised the creation of a group to study the proposals. "He didn't specify who would integrate the group".
Bingo Inquiry
Members of Brazil's Bingo Parliamentary Investigative Commission (CPI) will debate whether or not to convoke Brazilian Minister of Finance, Antonio Palocci, to testify regarding charges of corruption in the city of Ribeirão Preto (state of São Paulo) when he was mayor.
The CPI is also looking into reports of funds coming from abroad to finance the Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva victorious presidential campaign in 2002.
Palocci told the congressional Commission on Economic Affairs, in testimony last week, that no money from Cuba, Angola or the Colombia insurgent group, FARC, went to the Lula campaign.
ABr
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wether you put 2 days, 2 years or 20 years jail term for corruption, this will not change anything as the corrupted politicians have no risk.
I doubt the proposed new law will be accepted under Lula mandate as it is known that corruption is to the highest point ever.
If Palocci is so sure that no money came from a foreign source, it means he was directly involved with the finances of the PT party. Then how could he have not known the existence and the cash ins and outs of the Caxa 2 that has been finally recognized by the PT party ?
Eventually he was in charge of Caxa 3 or 4 or whatever.