Open session on future of Aécio Neves still undecided

Ousted from his office at the Senate, with his passport seized, and banned from leaving his home at night since September 26 following a Supreme Court ruling, Senator Aécio Neves will have his future subject to a vote tomorrow (Oct. 17) by his peers at the Senate. He will be allowed back in his post in case the majority of senators (41) choose to revoke the top court decision in a plenary session. Neves is a member of the Brazilian Social Democracy Party (PDSB) and was one of the main actors in the impeachment drive that targeted former President Dilma Rousseff.

Currently in effect against Neves is the decision of Márcio de Freitas, a federal judge in the Federal District, who forbid the vote from being secret. If his decision is overruled, Senate head Eunício Oliveira is to determine how the vote is to take place. Oliveira, however, is yet to discuss the matter with party leaders.

Vote

In order to secure the decision of federal authorities in Brasília mandating that the vote should not be held behind closed doors, Senator Randolfe Rodrigues, of the opposition party Rede, filed for a suit of mandamus with the Supreme Court this morning. “The rule in the Constitution is clear: the vote in this case must be open, clear, and transparent,” he argues. Rodrigues advocates the ouster of Senator Neves.

Raimundo Lira, leader of the Brazilian Democratic Movement Party (PMDB), did not disclose his vote, but said he personally thinks favorably of holding an open (not anonymous) vote. The PMDB is the party of President Michel Temer, who is also currently facing corruption charges.

The Workers' Party (PT), of former President Dilma Rousseff, which originally criticized the Supreme Court's decision to remove Neves, went back on its decision. In a meeting slated for tomorrow before the vote, the party is expected to vote in favor of upholding the measures against the senator.

Neves argued for holding an open vote in 2015, when the Senate authorized the arrest of then Senator Delcídio do Amaral. Amaral was a PT member back then.

Translated by Fabrício Ferreira