Pay-for-Vote Scandal: Brazilian House Absolves Two More

Since the beginning of the so-called "mensalão" (big monthly) crisis, in which there was supposedly a huge slush fund that the PT was using to pay some members of Congress a sort of "monthly allowance" for their votes in favor of government projects, a grand total of two deputies have been expelled.

Four other resigned, four have now been absolved and eleven more await decisions by either the Ethics Council or a floor vote. In order to be expelled a deputy must have his expulsion formally proposed by the Ethics Council. If that happens the case then goes to a floor vote where 257 votes are needed for expulsion.

Wednesday night, March 8, the Chamber of Deputies voted to absolve Roberto Brant (PFL, Goiás state) and Professor Luizinho (PT, São Paulo).

Here is a breakdown on the situation of all the deputies accused of involvement in the "mensalão."

Expelled:
José Dirceu (PT, São Paulo)
Roberto Jefferson (PTB, Rio de Janeiro)

Resigned:
Bispo Rodrigues (PL, Rio de Janeiro)
Valdemar Costa Neto (PL, São Paulo)
Paulo Rocha (PT, Pará)
José Borba (PMDB, Paraná)

Absolved:
Sandro Mabel (PL, Goiás)
Romeu Queiroz (PTB, Minas Gerais)
Roberto Brant (PFL, Minas Gerais)
Professor Luizinho (PT, São Paulo)

Awaiting a floor vote:
João Magno (PT, Minas Gerais)
Pedro Correa (PP, Pernambuco)
Pedro Henry (PP, Mato Grosso)
Wanderval Santos (PL, São Paulo)

Awaiting a decision by the Ethics Council:
João Paulo Cunha (PT, São Paulo)
José Janene (PP, Paraná)
José Mentor (PT, São Paulo)
Josias Gomes (PT-BA)
Vadão Gomes (PP, São Paulo)
Onyx Lorenzoni (PFL-RS) *
Zulaiê Cobra (PSDB, São Paulo) *

* The last two names are indirected involved. Onyx Lorenzoni (PFL, Rio Grande do Sul) is up for possible expulsion because he is accused of leaking secret information from the Parliamentary Investigative Commission (CPI); Zulaiê Cobra (PSDB, São Paulo), is threatened with expulsion because she accused the PT of assassinating the mayor of Santo André, Celso Daniel.

Agência Brasil

Tags:

You May Also Like

Brazilian Senate Urged to Approve Global Anti-Tobacco Accord

The Brazilian Clinical Oncology Society (SBOC), the São Paulo regional chapter of the SBOC, ...

Foreign Investors Keep Selling Brazilian Assets and Stocks Are Down 15% in 2010

Bovespa, Brazil’s  stock index and the real, the Brazilian currency, lost ground for a ...

Brazil, in the Forefront of Leather Fashion

Taking place in the largest leather and shoe hub in Brazil, in Novo Hamburgo, ...

Brazil South Has Already Exported US$ 12 Billion This Year

Brazilian businesses small and medium from the states of Rio Grande do Sul, Santa ...

Brazilian film starring in Chicago

Brazil has participated in the latest Latino Film Festival in big style. Sam and ...

How an Idea Born in Curitiba, Brazil, Is Revolutionizing LatAm’s Urban Design

Over the past fifteen years, cities throughout Latin America have achieved a modest, yet ...

Brazil Gives Small Oil and Gas Companies a Hand

To expand the participation of micro and small companies in the PVC, petroleum and ...

Brazilian Youth Want Jobs and End to Violence

Around 30% of the Brazilian population is composed of youth between the ages of ...

Brazil’s Textile Industry Shows US$ 47 Million Trade Balance Deficit

Brazil's textile and garment production sector ended the first month of 2009 with a ...

Rabid Vampire Bats Attack More than 1,300 in Brazil. 23 Die.

Health authorities in northern Brazil are dealing with a wave of vampire bats attacks ...