Brazilian Judge reinstates top ally of President Temer to a ministerial post

Wednesday, February 15th 2017 - 09:34 UTC

Full article 45 comments

The nomination of Moreira Franco came days after the Supreme Court officially approved plea bargain testimony from 77 executives and employees of Odebrecht.

A Brazilian judge reinstated the nomination of a top ally of President Michel Temer to a ministerial post, but ruled he could not receive the legal protections other high-ranking politicians enjoy.

Rio de Janeiro Judge Alcides Ribeiro Filho's ruling that Wellington Moreira Franco could take a ministerial position in which he would oversee infrastructure and communications was the latest in a see-saw battle over the politician's promotion.

Opposition parties still have pending appeals opposing Moreira Franco's being named a minister before other judges, including a Supreme Court justice, and their rulings are expected to come early next week.

On Thursday, another federal judge had blocked the nomination, saying it could not be ignored that Moreira Franco had reportedly been named in plea bargain testimony that linked him to a massive political kickback scheme at state-run oil company Petrobras

Under Brazilian law, sitting federal congressmen, several members of the executive branch and other officials can only be investigated with the permission of the Supreme Court, and they can only be tried for a crime within the top court.

The nomination of Moreira Franco came just days after the Supreme Court officially approved plea bargain testimony from 77 executives and employees of Odebrecht, the construction conglomerate at the heart of the Petrobras corruption scandal.

It is expected that testimony will lead investigators to open inquires into more than 100 sitting politicians, greatly expanding what is already Brazil's largest-ever corruption probe.

Moreira Franco has been serving as Temer's current head of infrastructure investment.

That position did not give him extra legal protection, meaning that any investigation and trial of him would be handled by the same federal prosecutors and crusading judge who have pursued the Petrobras graft probe for nearly three years.

Categories: Politics, Brazil.

Tags: Brazil, Lava Jato operation, Michel Temer President, Odebrecht Company Limited, Petrobras corruption, Wellington Moreira Franco.

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:o))
REF: “ruled he could not receive the legal protections other high-ranking politicians enjoy”: Well, at least THAT [although, there MUST be “some” loophole, as always!!
- But will it REALLY happen, just in case......? OR:
- Why not just remove these benefits/protection of ALL?
Feb 15th, 2017 - 11:31 am +1
DemonTree
Yeah, it seems like it's about time to remove that protection from all of them. If for no other reason, then because if they keep barring anyone named in the scandal there will soon be no one running the country at all!
Feb 15th, 2017 - 01:35 pm +1
Jack Bauer
While being named in a plea-bargain is not proof of corruption, it is highly indicative, as where there's smoke, there's (usually) fire....anyhow, reacting to (part of) the public's perception, that this was just a manoeuvre to protect Moreira Franco, at least Temer made a public commitment to fire any high-ranking politician (in his ministry) who becomes a defendant in a corruption case (linked to the “lavajato”). As all politicians, ministers or not, have privileged forum, it would then depend on Congress to kick them out, making it possible for Moro to decide their fate. It could be far worse, but on the good side, Dilma and Lula are goners.
Feb 15th, 2017 - 04:24 pm +1

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