Ally in Congress to Head Inquiry Commission Into Charges Against President Temer

09/29/2017 - 10h08

Congressman Bonifácio de Andrada (PSDB-MG), a member of Michel Temer's governing coalition, was designated by Congress on Thursday (the 28th) to head the inquiry commission into the second round of charges that the Prosecutor General 's Office has brought against the president.

Temer is facing obstruction of justice charges and is accused of participating in a criminal organization suspected of receiving R$ 587 million (US$ 185 million) in kickbacks.

Congressman Bonifácio de Andrada is a close ally of Aécio Neves (PSDB), who was recently suspended from the Senate.

The announcement that the congressman was designated to head the commission pleased members of the governing coalition, although it also widened the divide within the PSDB.

The party is split on whether or not to continue supporting Temer.

Allies of the president believe that the administration's efforts to get the Senate to overturn the Supreme Court's decision that suspended Aécio Neves will be compensated with a favorable report by congressman Bonifácio.

"The government looks forward to someone with the qualifications to write a report on an indictment which, in my opinion, is completely innocuous", said congressman Beto Mansur (PRB-SP), one of president Temer's main allies, after Bonifácio's name had been announced.

The report issued by the Constitution and Justice Commission (CCJ) will set the tone for the vote which, according to the president of the lower house, Rodrigo Maia (DEM-RJ), ought to take place on the week of the 25th of October.

The Supreme Court would need to be granted authorization from 342 of the 513 congressmen in order to gain access to the indictment.

When corruption charges had been brought against him the first time, Temer managed to bring the proceedings to an end with the support of 263 congressmen, while 227 congressmen voted in favor of the proceedings.

Translated by THOMAS MATHEWSON

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	Walterson Rosa/FramePhoto/Folhapress
	Brazil's president Michel Temer attends a ceremony in Brasilia