President Temer Tries to Speed Up Congressional Deliberation that Could Lead to Criminal Charges

06/13/2017 - 12h00

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GUSTAVO URIBE

DANIEL CARVALHO

REYNALDO TUROLLO JR.

FROM BRASÍLIA

President Michel Temer, who is already expecting the PGR (Prosecutor General of the Republic) to bring charges against him next week, is trying to get Congress to vote on the matter before the upcoming parliamentary recess, which begins on July 18th.

Over the weekend the president started drawing out what the vote regarding the CCJ (Constitution and Justice Commission) charges will look like as well as a strategy to reduce the total number of sessions.

Pedro Ladeira/Folhapress President Michel Temer

The goal is to try to restrain the political crisis by making sure it doesn't extend into the second semester and affect the voting calendar regarding the pension reform, which will most likely only take place in August.

In order for Congress to begin the proceedings that could bring charges against the president for a common crime, the Supreme Court has to give it authorization.

The proceedings begin in the CCJ, which can take up to fifteen sessions: the president presents its defense in as many as ten sessions, while five sessions are used for the commission to present its verdict.

The Temer administration would like to present its defense in three sessions, and apply pressure on the chairman so the verdict cab preferably come out in less than five sessions.

Temer's administration has been shaken by accusations he endorsed payment of hush money to buy the silence of a potential witness in a corruption probe and took bribes from giant meatpacker JBS SA.

Temer is being investigated for corruption and obstruction of justice. Brazil's top prosecutor is expected to file charges against the president in the coming days.

Translated by THOMAS MATHEWSON

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