Brazilian President Michel Temer on Wednesday succeeded in blocking efforts by prosecutors to put him on trial for corruption before the Supreme Court. Under Brazil’s Constitution, a two-thirds majority of the Chamber of Deputies is necessary to authorize a trial of the chief executive. In today’s vote, 267 members of the lower house of Congress voted in favor of a trial and 227 voted against it. Temer needed only 172 votes “against” to block his arraignment before the high court. Temer argued that charges against him are based on flimsy evidence. Prosecutors say they believe he solicited illegal campaign contributions. Temer also argued that a trial would be politically disruptive. He would have been obliged to take a leave-of-absence as President for 180 days. Temer has less than a year and a half to go in his term of office. Prosecutors can still raise othe r charges against Temer. Bringing such charges would lead to another Chamber of Deputies vote on admissibility. By surviving such a vote Wednesday, Temer may be able to scare off prosecutors until the end of his term, according to political scientists.
Link to government news agency release.
More Testimonials