(2014-11-17) Brazil’s  has said investigations into corruption at the state-owned oil company, Petrobras, could change the country forever.

She was speaking for the first time since the arrest on Friday of 23 people suspected of corruption and money-laundering.

They include top executives of companies which had contracts with Petrobras.

President Rousseff chaired the board of Petrobras from 2003 to 2010.

“It is a symbolic case for Brazil,” she said.

“This will change forever the relationship between Brazilian society, the Brazilian state and private companies.”

President Rousseff said all agreements between Petrobras and a handful of large construction companies which acted as contractors for Petrobras would be investigated.

She said the investigation would target individuals rather than Petrobras as a company.

The Petrobras scandal has also spread to MPs of the largest ruling parties, including President Rousseff’s Workers Party.

Petrobras, which is majority-owned by the Brazilian government, is one…