Valerio Denies Accusations

Brazilian state contractor Marcos Valerio Fernandes de Souza, who’s at the center of a probe of alleged corruption in the ruling Workers’ Party, said he has never lent money to a president or cabinet minister. Opposition lawmakers such as Senator Demostenes Torres have asserted that Valerio helped the Workers’ Party cover some expenses of President Lula da Silva´s transition team and inauguration party in Brasilia. A corruption scandal has dogged Lula´s government since June and threatens to cut into his popularity ahead of next year´s presidential elections.