Santiago: Dirceu Knew of Loans

Jose Dirceu, Brazil’s former cabinet chief, knew state contractor Marcos Valerio Fernandes de Souza made loans to the governing Workers’ Party, Valerio´s wife Renilda Santiago said in congressional testimony. Valerio told her Dirceu had meetings with executives from Banco Rural and Banco de Minas Gerais last year to find ways to pay off the loans. She went on to say that Valerio never mentioned any transaction aimed at paying the expenses of President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva or any of his relatives, a connection that some opposition lawmakers have sought to establish.