The ‘Car Wash’ task force threaten to resign. Image: Selase Kove-Seyram
On Saturday morning, Brazilian federal prosecutors from the Car Wash Task Force threatened to resign if the Brazilian Senate and President Michel Temer approved a bill that would compromise the independence of judges and prosecutors. The announcement was made by Deltan Dallagnon, lead prosecutor of the Lava Jato operation, during a ceremony in which Transparency International awarded the group of prosecutors in charge of the case with the 2016 Anti-Corruption Award.
“Regarding our possible resignation, it’s not a matter of giving up, but of recognizing that once the line is crossed, Car Wash authorities are helpless against legislators that use their power to protect themselves. This may be the beginning of the end of Car Wash,” Dallagnon said to a room full of journalists and anti-corruption advocates.
The announcement comes after Brazil’s lower house voted to weaken the “10 Measures Against Corruption” legislation – a set of reforms pushed by the Car Wash Task Force to strengthen the ability of public administrators to prevent and detect corruption, and law enforcers to investigate, prosecute and sanction it.
According to a statement released by Transparency International, the modified version of the law “removed essential features on whistleblower protection and illegal campaign financing and introduced an amendment that opens the door to prosecute judges and prosecutors for liability offence.” In extreme cases, normal functions of prosecutors could be interpreted as unlawful.
“Congressional action sends a strong message about the direction the Brazilian government wishes to take in the matter of corruption,” Dallagnon said. “We urge Congress to change this direction, and we urge Brazilian society to react through democratic and civil means that may awake Congress to the fact that no one, not even Congress, is above the rule of law. If not, our fight will be in vain.”
Dallagnon also urged international actors to support their fight.
“We need the international community to take a stance on what is going on in Brazil. Both internal and external pressures were important for reforms in many countries which passed laws to turn the page on corruption scandals.”
Chair of Transparency International José Ugaz and federal prosecutors also condemned the manner in which Brazil’s lower house approved the legislation – the measure was discussed and approved during an overnight session on 30 November, the same day thousands of Brazilians were mourning the death of 71 members of the Brazilian soccer team Chapecoense, who were en route to Colombia when the plane in which they were traveling crashed.
“Congress says that they represent the people; however when they approved the midnight deal, they did not represent the people’s interests, and betrayed a clear conflict of interest. The sovereign power still belongs to the people, and the public’s interest is the sole guide,” Dallagnon said.
Dallagnon concluded his remarks by thanking Transparency International for taking a stance on the issue, and making a final call to the Brazilian people.
“We dedicate this award to every Brazilian citizen who felt or still feels powerless when facing corruption. We would like to tell each Brazilian citizen that the only power that the Car Wash has against the illegitimate use of power by the corrupt is the loud voice of our society. You, the people, are our strength. Your acts comfort us when we feel as if the ceiling were falling on our heads. You are the reason we remain undefeated.”
Lucia He is a product of the crossroads between Argentina and China. Editor of Sin Corrupción, a news website on corruption issues in Argentina run by the Asociación Civil por la Igualdad y la Justicia (ACIJ), an NGO. She is also a freelance journalist based in Buenos Aires, writing economic stories and filming videos about social issues for international media. She graduated from Georgetown University in 2015 with a major in International Political Economy and a certificate in Latin American Studies.
