Impeachment threat, court impede Rousseff
BRASILIA— Brazilian lawmakers are accelerating impeachment proceedings against President Dilma Rousseff as a growing court battle prevents her newly appointed chief of staff from defending her in Congress.
The lower house could vote on whether to impeach Rousseff in the lower house in about a month, speaker Eduardo Cunha said in Brasilia, reducing his previous forecast of 45 days. “If we have quorum during all working days, we can vote in the weeks of April 20 or April 27,” he said.
Anumber of court injunctions have stopped Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva from taking a job in Rousseff’s cabinet, dashing hopes that the former president would use his political abilities to rebuild the government coalition and defuse the impeachment threat.
The first injunction against Lula’s nomination was issued by a federal judge just one hour after his swearing-in ceremony on Thursday. It was struck down by a higher-court judge, but the legal battle is set to continue, with several others cases being considered all over the country, including in the Supreme Court.
Lula’s appointment was blasted by government critics as being part of a strategy to shield the former president from the Carwash corruption investigation being conducted by federal judge Sergio Moro. Accord- ing to Brazilian legislation, only the Supreme Court can probe, indict or imprison presidents and cabinet members.
Supporters of Lula, who was one of the world’s most famous leaders as president from 2003 to 2010, gathered in rallies across Brazil, particularly in the industrial south, where the former factory worker has his base.
In Sao Paulo, tens of thousands gathered in front of the city’s art museum. Most wore red T-shirts and caps and frequently chanted, “Lula, the minister of hope.”
Rousseff’s opponents accuse her of trying to help Lula avoid legal woes. Less than two weeks ago, he was taken in for questioning in the sprawling Petrobras kickback probe that has ensnared both allies and rivals of the former president.
Rousseff supporters have a different take: They say the 70-year-old Lula, known for his disarming charisma and ability to build consensus, could save Rousseff’s job and help straighten out the economy.
Both Rousseff and Lula have repeatedly denied any wrongdoing.