The Minister of Social Security, Carlos Lupi, said on Wednesday (23) that the appointment of Alessandro Stefanutto for the presidency of the National Institute of Social Security (INSS) was a personal decision, assuming total responsibility for the choice.
“Stefanutto’s indication is my full responsibility. Doctor Stefanutto is a prosecutor, a server who – so far – has given me all the demonstrations of being exemplary. He was part of the transition group. We will now wait for the process, which runs under secret,” said Lupi.
Stefanutto was removed from office after the Federal Police (PF) Operation without Discount (PF), which investigates an undue billionaire scheme for social security benefits. The investigation involves deviations of at least R $ 6.3 billion between 2019 and 2024, as pointed out by the PF and the Comptroller General of the Union (CGU).
The minister also stated that he expects a rigorous investigation and punishments for those involved:
“I want to exemplarily punish any citizen who has made mistakes, evil, crimes.”
Lupi also made a mea guilt and acknowledged that there was a failure of the federal government by allowing entities to firm agreements with the INSS without proper verification of requirements.
“The government failed not to verify that the entities met the requirements to sign the agreement with the INSS,” he admitted.
Stefanutto has been an INSS career servant since 2000. Before the appointment, he was affiliated with the PSB, a party that is part of the government base, but recently joined the PDT, a caption chaired by Carlos Lupi.
Despite the previous affiliation, PSB president Carlos Siqueira denied any party participation in the nomination. According to him, the appointment was exclusive to the Minister of Social Security.
“Although he is from the PSB, he was chosen by Minister Lupi without any nomination of the PSB. The party was not consulted about this indication,” said Siqueira.
Lupi’s speech occurs amid the political impact of the operation, which reaches the high level of the INSS and puts pressure on pension management. In addition to Stefanutto, five other servers were removed, including the benefit director and the INSS Attorney General. The government also evaluates the consequences of the investigation into the governance of the body.
