MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency
Brazilian Senate challenges Supreme Court and returns suspended lawmaker
Former presidential candidate Aecio Neves was returned to the Senate by a 44-to-26 vote. The Senate on Tuesday rejected a decision of Brazil's top court and returned a suspended lawmaker to his post, in what critics said was the latest self-protection move by politicians accused of corruption.
Former presidential candidate Aecio Neves was returned to the Senate by a 44-to-26 vote. He had been suspended by Brazil's Supreme Court, which ordered him put under house arrest. The conservative politician, who is a key ally of embattled President Michel Temer, was accused of obstruction of justice in a corruption case.
Politicians have a special jurisdiction in Brazil's top court and cannot be prosecuted by low courts, but lawmakers argue the judiciary cannot prevail over the legislature.
The vote is likely to escalate tensions between anti-corruption judges and scandal-tainted politicians, many of whom have been caught up in the sprawling “Car Wash” corruption case.
Neves, who narrowly lost the presidency in 2014, is chairman of the Brazilian Social Democracy Party, one of the biggest in Congress. He took a leave from the party position after the series of charges appeared.
Temer needs the help of Neves' party to survive a vote in Congress that could suspend him from office and put him on trial for corruption.
“Voting with Aecio is voting for democracy” since politicians should have the last word on which colleagues are arrested, said Senator Romero Juca, a leader of Temer's administration in the upper house.
Since Rousseff was impeached and replaced by Temer, Brazil's government has cut funding for federal police and prosecutors have complained about difficulties in investigating politicians.
Top Comments
Disclaimer & comment rules-
-
-
Read all commentsThe Senate; after all, is NOT the Brotherhood-of-Crooks:
Oct 18th, 2017 - 09:39 am 0https://i1.wp.com/www.humorpolitico.com.br/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/votocheiro-internet.jpg?resize=561%2C420&ssl=1
“Voting with Aecio is voting for democracy” since the gang of crooks should have the last word on which colleagues are arrested, said Senator Romero Juca, a leader of Temer's administration in the upper house.
Oct 18th, 2017 - 12:43 pm 0@DT:
Oct 18th, 2017 - 10:17 pm 0REF: “the gang of crooks should have the last word”:
Of course!
THAT too under the garb of [FAKE] Democracy! FAKE, because under it's “protection”, they enjoy special privileges & special benefits - besides their ridiculously absurd salaries. NO wonder the politicians & the political parties keep flourishing!
Afterall, THEY make the laws and interpret the legal system in THEIR favor. Exactly, the SAME is true, about the constitution. The “Writing on the wall” which the masses don't or can't see: “Brazil is heading towards legalizing corruption”!
Commenting for this story is now closed.
If you have a Facebook account, become a fan and comment on our Facebook Page!