Progress in the Master case takes Flávio off the defensive and shuffles narratives

The investigations into the Master case opened a new front in the political dispute between Lulism and Bolsonarism. With the entry of the government leader in the Senate, Jaques Wagner (PT-BA), on the radar of the Federal Police, the senator and pre-candidate for the Presidency, Flávio Bolsonaro (PL-RJ), is looking for a space to get off the defensive and launch a counterattack, shuffling the narratives surrounding the case.

Taking advantage of an already planned announcement about proposals to combat crime, Flávio stated that the Federal Police "imploded the PT in Bahia", transforming the progress of investigations into a political reaction. Later, through social media, he also sought to link Lula directly to the situation, although there is no suspicion or investigation underway in relation to the president.

The movement illustrates how research starts to produce political effects for both sides of the polarization. In practice, the case no longer represents wear concentrated in just one of the fields.

This is because, on the other hand, until then, allies of the PT administration sought to associate the scandal strictly with Flávio due to his conversations and his request for money from Daniel Vorcaro, Master's former banker, for "Dark Horse", the film inspired by the trajectory of former president Jair Bolsonaro (PL). Since the revelation of the conversations, Flávio had been falling in polls of voting intentions.

The advance on one of President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva's (PT) main trusted men, however, is already putting pressure on Planalto. Behind the scenes, the government's strategy has been to restrict and individualize the case, preventing political wear and tear from reaching the president directly. Interlocutors also reinforce the discourse that the Federal Police has the autonomy to investigate "whoever it is" and "it hurts whoever it hurts".

The only convergence between PT and PL, for now, is the defense of the already considered stillborn CPMI in the Master case, precisely due to the assessment, shared behind the scenes, that the initiative is unlikely to prosper.

Jaques in the PF's sights
This Thursday (18), during the 9th phase of Operation Compliance, the Federal Police seized around 55 thousand dollars (R$ 284.1 thousand) and 33 thousand euros (R$ 196.3 thousand), at addresses linked to Jaques Wagner, in Brasília and Salvador. The investigators point to evidence of the parliamentarian receiving undue advantages, especially through his relationship with Augusto Ferreira Lima, former partner of Daniel Vorcaro and husband of Flávia Peres, former minister in the Jair Bolsonaro government.

Among the supposed benefits cited by the PF are an apartment valued at around R$2.5 million in Salvador, tickets to a concert by an international singer in Los Angeles, travel on aircraft linked to Lima or Banco Master and supposed payments through the senator's daughter-in-law's company.

On the other hand, the PF points out that Wagner would have worked on matters of interest to the financial institution, such as the expansion of the margin for consigned credit for CLT workers and a suggested amendment that would expand the coverage of the Credit Guarantee Fund (FGC).

The investigation also highlights a message sent by Augusto Lima to the senator during negotiations over the sale of Master to BRB. In the conversation, the businessman states: "You more than anyone know my story and you are part of it." For the PF, the dialogue reinforces the closeness between the two and suggests that Wagner was relevant to issues sensitive to the group.

In a statement, Jaques Wagner stated that he was following the investigations calmly, denied having acted in favor of Banco Master and said that the apartment mentioned does not belong to him. Regarding the money seized, he stated that it was resources coming from official daily allowances for the Senate's international missions, declared and unused.

Jaques Wagner admits two meetings with Vorcaro, but denies receiving money | CNN 360°

Source: CNN