Embattled Brazilian president survives vote
Michel Temer dodges suspension and possible corruption charges
BRASILIA, BRAZIL— President Michel Temer survived a key vote Wednesday night on whether he should be tried on corruption charges, mustering support in Brazil’s lower house of Congress despite abysmal approval ratings and widespread rejection among his countrymen.
To avoid being suspended and put on trial for charges of obstruction of justice and leading a criminal organization, the president needed the support of at least one-third of the 513 deputies in the Chamber of Deputies.
Temer reached the threshold of 171 about two hours into the voting, compared to151voting against him at that point. The final tally was 251 in support of Temer and 233 against. The remaining were abstentions and absences.
Temer survived a similar vote in August on a separate bribery charge.
“This accusation is fragile, inept and worse than the first one,” legislator Celso Russomanno said while voting in favour of Temer.
The opposition, which spent much of the day manoeuvring to postpone the vote, blasted Temer.
“I vote with more than 90 per cent of Brazilians who have already convicted Temer’s corrupted administration,” said lawmaker Luiza Erundina.
While it was a clear win for Temer, the president has become so weakened by repeated scandals that it remains to be seen whether he can muster support for key reforms. Temer, then vice-president, took over last year after former president Dilma Rousseff was impeached and removed from office. His term goes until Dec. 31, 2018.
The administration, which many feel lacks legitimacy because of how Temer came to power, has faced so many scandals that the president’s approval rating is around 3 per cent, according to recent polls.
Congressman Alessandro Molon, who voted against Temer, summed up the predictions of many political observers after the vote.
“We are going to be stuck with a lame-duck president for one more year,” Molon told The Associated Press. “He is not getting what he wants from this Congress because of the elections. And we are not going to get an agenda that is good for Brazilians, who reject Temer.”