Note on Brazil president's impeachment creates tension in Parlasur

The Mercosur Parliament (Parlasur) removed from their website this Tuesday (Apr. 26) a note signed by Argentine lawmaker and Parlasur speaker Jorge Taiana, on the impeachment proceedings against Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff. After the text was removed, the tempers of part of the Brazilian representation in Parlasur have been controled. On Monday (Apr. 25), they had abandoned a ceremony marking Mercosur's 25th anniversary in Montevideo, Uruguay.

The statement that outraged Brazilian lawmakers read that the impeachment proceedings being discussed at the Senate "are a parliamentary coup and misused the impeachment law." Deputy Arthur Maia challenged Taiana's authority to issue a statement on Parlasur's behalf, declaring that he had no right to release personal statement on the institution's behalf. "His statement was irresponsible," said Maia to Taiana in his speech.

According to Maia, it was possible to infer from the note that the position against impeachment was adopted by Parlasur and not that it was the Argentine's personal opinion. He asked Taiana to remove the note from the website because the text "humiliated" Brazilian lawmakers who defend the constitutional ousting of the president.

Maia reported that the congressmen were also annoyed by the seats reserved to the Brazilian delegation at the meeting, at the back of the room where the event took place. "It was a retaliation to humiliate the Brazilian delegation," he said.

Deputy Jean Wyllys, one of the Brazilian lawmakers who have not withdraw from the room, said he disagrees with the attitude of the Brazilian delegation and considered the colleagues' attitude a gesture of arrogance. He decided to remain at the meeting, because he was there to represent Brazil.

Translated by Amarílis Anchieta