Brazil’s Ethics Council Draws Lots to Start Processes Against Congressmen

Brazzil Magazine covers

The Council of Ethics and Parliamentary Decorum of the Chamber of Deputies concluded the process of drawing lots to choose rapporteurs for the 11 disciplinary processes initiated on Monday, October 17.

The cases are against the federal deputies mentioned in the combined preliminary report of the joint parliamentary investigation commissions (CPMIs) on the Post Office and Vote Buying.

They are all accused of receiving money from the scheme manipulated by the advertising executive, Marcos Valério de Souza.

The list of the accused contains the names of five Workers’ Party (PT) deputies, including the former president of the Chamber, João Paulo Cunha; four from the Progressive Party (PP); one from the Liberal Party (PL) – these three parties belong to the government’s parliamentary support base -; and one from the opposition Liberal Front Party (PFL).

The president of the Ethics Council, deputy Ricardo Izar (PTB party – São Paulo), said he decided to draw lots in order to stave off pressures. "The moment I announced the drawing of lots, the pressures ceased."

Of the 13 deputies named in the CPMIs list, which was later forwarded to the Council by the presiding body of the Chamber, deputies João Borba (PMDB – Paraná) and Paulo Rocha (PT – Pará) renounced their mandates prior to the opening of the expulsion processes. On Monday, the two filed their renunciations just before 6 PM, the deadline determined by the Ethics Council.

The members of the Council are meeting today to read the opinion submitted by deputy Júlio Delgado (PSB – Minas Gerais), rapporteur of the case against deputy José Dirceu (PT – São Paulo) for breach of parliamentary decorum.

Agência Brasil

Tags:

You May Also Like

Brazzil Magazine covers

August 1994

CONTENTS: Cover: Fighting for the land (p. 7) Presidential election: we have a tie ...

Brazzil Magazine covers

Guimarães Rosa’s Sarapalha – In Portuguese

The malaria stayed. The residents, they were the ones who went away: the first ...

Brazzil Magazine covers

Brazilian Police Detain Pigeons Bringing Inmates Cell Phones

Brazilian inmates were found to be using carrier pigeons to smuggle cell phones onto ...

Brazzil Magazine covers

Brazil Celebrates 72% Drop in Deforestation, Credits It to Green Arch

An area of 247 square kilometers (95 square miles) of Brazilian rainforest was cut ...

Brazzil Magazine covers

Brazil on the Verge of Becoming a World-Class Semiconductor Hub

Brazilian authorities announced ambitious plans to establish a semiconductor industry in the Brazilian state ...

Brazzil Magazine covers

70% Jump: China Becomes Leading Buyer of Brazil’s Farming Goods

In 2008, China assumed the role of leading global importer of products of the ...