Marcela Rebelo
Reporter Agência Brasil

Brasília – The former treasurer of the PT, Delúbio Soares, began his testimony before the Vote Buying CPI (Comissão Parlamentar Mista de Inquérito (CPMI) da Compra de Votos) by denying that his party had ever made monthly payments to members of Congress, something known as the "mensalão" (monthly allowance). "The PT never bought deputies, never bought votes and never made any quid pro quo offers for the vote of anyone," said Soares.

In other statements, Soares took full responsibility for loans from adman/businessman Marcos Valerio. "I was the only person responsible for the loans and the use of that money," he said.

Soares once again declared that funds which were obtained by the PT without registration, that were not declared to the IRS or the Election Board (funds known as "caixa 2"), never came from the public sector.

Translator: Allen Bennett