Brazil's PT demands answers from Flávio Bolsonaro on Vorcaro ties, probes Wagner scandal

Brazil's Workers' Party (PT) has publicly called for Senator Flávio Bolsonaro to explain his alleged financial connections with Daniel Vorcaro, the owner of Banco Master. This demand comes as the PT also navigates the controversy surrounding Senator Jaques Wagner, a former leader of the government in the Senate, who faces accusations of bribery. The party's National Directorate discussed strategies for President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva's re-election campaign during a closed-door meeting in Brasília. While the PT leadership has chosen not to officially engage in the political fallout between Michelle Bolsonaro and her son Flávio, they are keenly interested in linking Flávio Bolsonaro to Vorcaro to undermine his political standing. A political resolution passed by the PT's Directorate, without directly mentioning the financing of the film "Dark Horse," points to "promiscuity between private interests, political power, and sectors of the financial system" during the Bolsonaro administration. The resolution specifically states, "To this day, Flávio Bolsonaro has not provided convincing explanations about the destination of the millions of reais requested from Daniel Vorcaro nor about the financial operations surrounding this relationship." Reports from The Intercept Brasil in May revealed that Flávio Bolsonaro had sent audio messages and texts to Vorcaro requesting funds for the "Dark Horse" film, which chronicles the life of former President Jair Bolsonaro. Vorcaro had reportedly committed to providing $24 million, equivalent to R$ 134 million, for the film. The Federal Police have launched an investigation into this matter. Concurrently, Senator Jaques Wagner became the target of Operation Compliance Zero, accused of receiving a bribe of R$ 2.5 million for an apartment in Salvador from Augusto Lima, a former business partner of Vorcaro. Further investigations by the Federal Police uncovered R$ 3.5 million in transfers from Lima to a company owned by his stepson and daughter-in-law. Authorities also found cash, including US$ 55,000 and 33,000 euros, along with 13 watches, in a hotel room occupied by Wagner in Brasília. Wagner asserted that the money represented per diems paid by the Senate for international travel. At the time, the PT pressured Wagner to resign from his government post, which he did on June 24, six days after the scandal erupted.

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Jaques Wagner is another senator instrumentalized in Vorcaro's service.