Temer's Governing Coalition Does Not Guarantee It Will Vote Against Prosecution of President

07/03/2017 - 08h25

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ANGELA BOLDRINI

CARLOS JUNIOR BOZZO

DENISE PEROTTI

GÉSSICA BRANDINO

RODRIGO BORGES DELFIM

FROM BRASÍLIA

FROM SÃO PAULO

The governing coalition in the lower house of Congress refused to take a stand when it came to the vote to prosecute the president based on the charges brought against Mr. Temer by the Prosecutor General's Office.

Last week, Folha approached all 513 congressmen after the Prosecutor General sent documents to the Supreme Court on Monday (the 26th) accusing Temer of taking bribes - he was considered to have received a R$ 500,000 bribe (US$ 150,000) from meat-packing giant JBS, and was promised another R$ 38 million (US$ 11.5 million).

A two-thirds majority is required in the loewer house in order to authorize the Supreme Court to proceed with the prosecution. If approved, Temer would have to stand down for as much as 180 days and face trial.

45 congressmen said they would vote against prosecuting, while 130 congressmen declared they supported going forward with investigations. Another 212 votes would be needed to proceed.

112 congressmen said they were undecided, while 57 did not want to position themselves.

18 congressmen of the PMDB, the president's party, declared they were against prosecuting, while another 18 said they were still undecided.

None of the congressmen in the DEM party - which is the party of the president of the lower house, Rodrigo Maia (RJ) - said they opposed prosecuting. Three congressmen did not comment, while 13 said they were looking into it and 11 did not respond.

168 congressmen did not comment - most of whom are the president's allies.

After being approved by the Constitution and Justice committee, the decision to prosecute will go to the lower house plenary for a vote.

Translated by THOMAS MATHEWSON

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