Petrobras can 'turn page' on scandal

President Dilma Rousseff said Friday that the release of financial results which showed Petrobras lost $2.1 billion to corruption would allow the state oil giant to "turn a page" on the largest graft scheme in Brazilian history.

Petrobras on Wednesday released its long-delayed audited accounts of a growing scandal that has enveloped the company, triggered the resignations of its chief executive and entire board and badly wounded Rousseff's government.

"I believe that the approval of these results is very important and allows Petrobras to turn a page and get back on track," Rousseff said, adding that Petrobras, Brazil's largest company, "has exceeded all questions related to management issues."

Stock markets have reacted positively to the publication of the 2014 financial results -- an attempt by Petrobras to claw back confidence -- after a delay of months.

Prosecutors accuse Petrobras executives of colluding with construction companies to massively inflate contracts and bribe politicians, including members of Rousseff's Workers' Party (PT) and its allies.

Rousseff, who is facing calls to resign and popularity ratings of 13 percent just months into her second term, chaired the Petrobras board during much of the period under investigation, but is not accused of wrongdoing.
Source: AFP