Temer pushes reforms as graft charges are rejected

BRASILIA: The unelected President Michel Temer, who is Brazil’s most unpopular leader since 1985 when democracy returned, has vowed to continue with his controversial economic and political reforms now he is safe from a trial to face corruption charges.

Temer held on to power on Wednesday as the Chamber of Deputies voted to reject corruption charges against him.

The lawsuit filed by Prosecutor-General Rodrigo Janot has been dropped, with 263 votes against 227.

The case began in May, when Joesley Batista, the owner of a Brazilian meat-packing company, confessed he had paid bribes to the president.

He also turned over an audio recording in which Temer can apparently be heard signing off on bribes for public officials.

Temer’s special adviser, Rodrigo Loures, was also caught on film receiving a suitcase of 500 000 Brazilian reals (R2.1 million) allegedly destined for the president.

Temer was charged with bribe-taking, the first such charge against a sitting Brazilian president.

According to Brazilian law, Temer cannot be prosecuted on these corruption allegations again during his term in office.

Temer’s presidency has been marked by a harsh agenda of austerity, notably pushing through massive reforms to Brazil’s labour legislation in a move that was met with resistance from workers and unions across the country.

Saying that the decision not to prosecute has served to strengthen Temer, a leader of the Party of the Democratic Movement of Brazil, Darcisio Perondi, said Temer “will resume talks on reforming pensions next week… and will stimulate fiscal reform”.

Pension reform would require a three-fifths majority in the House and Senate since it is a constitutional reform.

Temer’s popularity languishes at 5%, according to a recent poll by Ibope.

Eighty-one percent of Brazilians supported the trial of the president for corruption, said Ibope. – Xinhua and TeleSUR