House speaker not afraid of probe into alleged Swiss accounts

When questioned about the charges filed against him by the Prosecutor

Published on 01/10/2015 - 17:44 By Carolina Gonçalves reports from Agência Brasil - Brasília

Brasília - O presidente da Câmara, Eduardo Cunha, dá entrevista sobre votação dos vetos da presidenta Dilma Rousseff (José Cruz/Agência Brasil)

Eduardo Cunha José Cruz/Agência Brasil

Chamber of Deputies speaker Eduardo Cunha said Thursday (Oct. 1) he is not afraid of any loss of political power arising from the charges filed against him under Operation Car Wash. When questioned about the announcement made by the Prosecutor-General's Office that bank accounts held in his name and that of his relatives were found in Switzerland, Cunha simply said “I'm not after political support.”

Cunha, who thus far has been implicated at least five times in testimonies given under plea bargain, remains silent on the subject of Operation Car Wash. On a possible investigation to be opened by Swiss prosecutors into the politician, Cunha's lawyer Antônio Fernando de Souza declared in a note that he will not make any remarks on the case, as he is not aware of any probes to begin in Switzerland.

The head of the lower house has called off a trip to Rome this weekend, where he would participate in the 1st Italy-Latin American and the Caribbean Forum by delivering a speech on Monday (5). His return would take place shortly after the address. “It'd be too busy,” he explained, dismissing any connection with the bank accounts in Switzerland.

As he plans to stay in Brasília over the weekend, Cunha said he could take the time to look through “one or two impeachment requests.” He has rejected three of the 13 motions brought against President Dilma Rousseff for not meeting all requirements.

It is among the duties of the Chamber of Deputies to deliberate on whether charges of willful neglect of duty are acceptable.


Translated by Fabrício Ferreira


Fonte: House speaker not afraid of probe into alleged Swiss accounts

Edition: Graça Adjuto / Olga Bardawil

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