In a Letter to Politicians, Temer Claims to Be the 'Victim' of a 'Conspiracy'

10/17/2017 - 11h02

In an attempt to rid himself of yet another indictment (which ought to be put to a vote on the plenary of the lower house by the end of the month), president Michel Temer decided to adopt a personal tone and appeal to Congress' hive mentality by writing a letter to congressmen and senators in his governing coalition.

In light of the new political crisis that has emerged after footage was leaked of the testimony of Lúcio Funaro (a black market currency-exchange operator), president Temer, who was directly implicated by the testimony, decided to write up a long letter over the weekend in which he claimed to be the "victim" of a "conspiracy" that was devised to remove him from office.

The letter was sent to the staffs of governors, members of Congress, city representatives and PMDB leaders on Monday (the 16th).

According to the press office of the Temer administration, it was an attempt to convince representatives of the need to bar the ever-growing power that has been conferred to the Prosecutor General's Office and to the Judiciary ever since Operation Car Wash (Lava Jato) started unfolding.

"I had never imagined that there could be a conspiracy underway to remove me from the Presidency of the Republic. But I have been persuaded by the facts. And they are irrefutable", wrote Temer.

In his letter, Temer admits that he was "voicing" his concerns, criticizing former Prosecutor General Rodrigo Janot, and informants Joesley Batista, from JBS, and Mr. Funaro. He dismissed their testimonies and said that their only goal was to tarnish his reputation.

According to the president, Janot participated in a "ploy", with the help of prosecutor Marcello Miller, to reach a plea-bargain agreement with JBS in an attempt to remove him from office.

Temer told members of Congress that he was preserving his honor and that Janot did not want him to appoint a new Prosecutor General or "to be or endorse" a successor for the presidency.

Translated by THOMAS MATHEWSON

Read the article in the original language

	Ueslei Marcelino/Reuters
	Brazil's President Michel Temer speaks during a press statement at the Planalto Palace in Brasilia