A key Brazilian lawmaker argued Monday that President Michel Temer should be suspended from office and put on trial in the country's highest court on a corruption charge.
Congressional support for Brazilian President Michel Temer is weakening, lawmakers said, days before the lower house is expected to vote on whether he should stand trial on a corruption charge. Temer, whose conservative government’s approval rating is languishing in single digits, is clinging to power after being charged with arranging to take millions of dollars in bribes, the first sitting Brazilian president to face such criminal proceedings.
Brazil's federal police announced late Thursday that they are shutting down the primary task force assigned to a jumbo corruption investigation, drawing criticism from prosecutors who said it would undermine the probe. The investigation, known as “Operation Car Wash,” is Brazil's largest-ever corruption probe. It has jailed top politicians and business executives and led to allegations against President Michel Temer.
Embattled Brazilian President Michel Temer quickly presented his legal defense against corruption allegations to lawmakers, a move seen as a bid to reduce the likelihood of being suspended from office and tried at the Supreme Court. Temer's lawyer submitted the defense on the second day of Chamber of Deputies commission proceedings to consider the matter, eight days ahead of deadline.
Brazilian police have arrested a close ally of President Michel Temer as part of a corruption investigation into a government-controlled bank. Geddel Vieira Lima, a former cabinet minister, had been in charge of Temer's relations with Congress.
Brazil went through Friday's general strike, the second of its kind called for by labour unions against the economic reforms President Michel Temer intends to bring about, with business nearly unaffected in major cities, Brasilia excluded. Temer's personal involvement in alleged cases of corruption seemed to have had little or no impact on the workers' decision.
Brazil's union federations will hold a second strike on Friday with demonstrations against the government's economic reforms and to demand the resignation of President Michel Temer, who has vowed to approve labour flexibility in the coming weeks.
Brazil's top prosecutor slapped President Michel Temer with a lengthy indictment Monday night, charging the embattled leader with corruption. The allegations, which include accepting millions of dollars in bribes and approving hush money, make Temer the first sitting president in the country's history to be charged with a crime.
Brazilian President Michel Temer reached a 7.0% approval rate in June, sinking deeper from the 9.0% measured in April, the Datafolha Institute reported, as the sitting head of state contnues to come closer to Jose Sarney's all time record of 0%, registered in 1989.
President Michel Temer of Brazil is to meet his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin during his Moscow stop this coming week. Among the items to be discussed is the purchase of air defense missile systems. There will also be talks with Russian investors to discuss energy matters.