Brazil’s attorney general asks for inquiry into education minister’s funding decisions

Brazil’s President Jair Bolsonaro speaks with Milton Ribeiro through a signing ceremony to authorise a salary increase for instructors, at the Planalto Palace in Brasilia, Brazil February 4, 2022. REUTERS/Adriano Machado/File Image

BRASILIA, Mar 23 (Reuters) – Brazil’s attorney general on Wednesday questioned the Supreme Courtroom to investigate funding conclusions made by the country’s education minister – a go which comes immediately after media studies that some initiatives negotiated by two pastors were being presented precedence.

The minister, Milton Ribeiro, denied any irregularities in the allocation of cash to municipal governments. Ribeiro also explained he requested federal comptroller CGU past year to look into irregularities about shelling out selections.

The attorney general’s workplace reported in a statement that its request for a Supreme Court docket inquiry follows “the publication of information stories pointing to the interference of two evangelical pastors in the (funding) procedure.”

Ribeiro explained in an interview with CNN Brazil before on Wednesday that he has made available to tackle the allegations before lawmakers in Congress.

“I produced myself offered,” mentioned Ribeiro, referring to current calls with senior legislators. “And I requested to go there to supply clarification.”

On Monday, Folha de S.Paulo newspaper documented that it had attained an audio recording of Ribeiro conversing about how the govt prioritized funding requests from local governments that have been negotiated by two influential pastors.

Ribeiro was quoted as stating that these kinds of funding choices aligned with the needs of President Jair Bolsonaro.

Reuters has not been ready to independently confirm the report.

Reporting by Maria Carolina Marcello Producing by Carolina Pulice Enhancing by David Alire Garcia and Edwina Gibbs

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