During Visit to Congress, PT Members Call Temer a "Coup Monger"

05/24/2016 - 10h56

During a visit to the Senate this Monday (23), Worker's Party congressmen called interim President Michel Temer a "coup monger" and accused him of supporting a "coup".

Temer, a member of the Brazilian Democratic Movement Party, was in Congress to deliver a speech outlining the government's new fiscal target.

Temer Visits Congress

At his right hand were the President of the Senate, Renan Calheiros (PMDB-AL) and Planning Minister Romero Jucá. Jucá recently resigned after being implicated in a bid to obstruct the Lava Jato investigations. Leaked audios published in Folha revealed that the Minister apparently conspired to impede the corruption clear-up.

Worker's Party congressmen Paulo Pimento (RS) and Moema Gramacho (BA) gained access to the areas cordoned off for Temer's visit.

Carrying signs comparing Jucá to the ex-Senator Delcídio do Amaral (ex-PT-MS), they demanded that the former Minister appear before the Senate's Ethics Committee.

The Worker's Party and the Socialism and Liberty Party have stated that the audio is further evidence in support of the claim that the impeachment of suspended President Dilma Rousseff is a farce.

The parties believe support for impeachment is being used as barter in exchange for protection from the investigative reaches of Operation Lava Jato.

Ex-Minister Ricardo Berzoini (Government Secretary) was appointed by Dilma to "demand the resignation" of Jucá and "investigate the involvement" of Michel Temer in the scandal surrounding the leaked audio.

Translated by GILLIAN SOPHIE HARRIS

Read the article in the original language