Ruling on the Suspension of Members of Congress Is a Priority, Says Brazil's Supreme Court

09/29/2017 - 10h23

In light of low attendance and the expectation that Brazil's Supreme Court (STF) will issue a new ruling on the matter, the Senate decided to postpone the vote on the suspension of senator Aécio Neves (PSDB-MG), who is also facing a curfew order.

The president of the Senate, Eunício Oliveira (PMDB-CE), took the issue to the floor of the Senate, where the senators only managed to pass one of three motions. They determined that, despite being urgent, the vote would be held next Tuesday (the 3rd).

The postponement is part of a strategy that all three branches of government are carrying out together.

Toward the end of Thursday's session, the president of the Supreme Court, justice Cármen Lúcia, allowed for the possibility of reintroducing the matter in a plenary sitting so the court can make a reassessment.

Justice Cármen Lúcia said that the court's priority is to assess a "direct action of unconstitutionality" calling for Congress to issue the last word on judicial sanctions imposed against congressmen and senators.

In doing so, justice Cármen Lúcia indicated that the court as a whole may try to reposition itself in such a way as to avoid that the Senate overturn its initial decision concerning the suspension of Aécio Neves.

"[The action] will be tried soon, God willing", said justice Cármen Lúcia, who still hasn't set a date for the trial. "It would be very good if we tried this action soon", she added. "[It's a] priority".

Translated by THOMAS MATHEWSON

Read the article in the original language

	Evaristo Sá/AFP
	Senator Aécio Neves had his mandate suspended by the Supreme Court