Brazil's Lower House Commission Rejects 2nd Accusation Against President Temer

10/19/2017 - 10h58

On Wednesday, October 18, the Commission of Constitution and Justice of Brazil's Lower House approved the report in favor of rejecting the second accusation made by the Prosecutor General's Office against President Michel Temer.

The final figures showed 39 votes in favor of President Temer, 26 against and one abstention - two votes short of the number the government reached in the decision of the first criminal accusation analyzed by the commission, and three votes short of the number it had expected this time.

The final decision will be made after a voting in a plenary sitting in the Lower House next week.

In the second indictment, President Temer is accused by the Prosecutor General's Office of obstructing justice and, along with Ministers Eliseu Padilha (Presidential Chief of Staff) and Moreira Franco (General Secretariat), integrating a criminal organization that received at least R$ 587 million (US$ 184 million) in bribes.

The report approved had been drawn up by Bonifácio de Andrada (PSDB), an ally of the government. The choice of Andrada made the internal crisis in his party grow as it was divided whether to support Temer or not.

In the first accusation against President Michel Temer for passive corruption filed in July, the Commission of Constitution and Justice approved a report against the continuation of proceedings with 41 votes in favor and 24 against.

In both cases political parties supporting the government changed members in the commission in order to ensure a favorable result for the government.

Translated by THOMAS MUELLO

Read the article in the original language

	Ueslei Marcelino - 26.jun.2017/Folhapress
	Brazilian President Michel Temer l