Corruption Accusation Blurs Brazil Senate President

Brazilian Attorney General's office accused today the president of the Senate, Renan Calheiros, of passive corruption and money laundering in relation to the state-owned oil producer Petrobras.

According to a public note issued by the office, Calheiros and the deputy Anibal Gomez both members of the ruling Party of the Brazilian Democratic Movement (PMDB), received bribes for 800,000 reais (about $ 242,000 USD at current exchange rate) from the infrastructure company Serveng in return of political support to obtain contracts with Petrobas.

To pay that money, the company allegedly made an official donation to the PMDB, whose final recipient was actually Calheiros.

In addition, the two involved offered political support to keep Paulo Roberto Costa as Petrobras director of supply who at the same time took the necessary steps to have Serveng participate in the tenders of the public company.

In his defense, Calheiros stated that his electoral accounts 'have already been approved' so he has no fear to clarify 'this one and any other point of the investigation'.

He is also facing investigations related to the Petrobras case, a network of bribes and diversion of public funds, as well as a trial for embezzlement of public funds.

The 61-year-old lawmaker is a powerful ally of Michel Temer's conservative government, who is struggling to pass the main steps of an adjustment plan in Congress to get Brazil out of the economic crisis.