Rousseff asks Supreme Court to reject deputies' appeal in impeachment case
The Attorney-General's Office (AGU) acting as counsel for President Dilma Rousseff has submitted a statement to the Supreme Court (STF) asking the court to reject the appeal filed by the Speaker of the Chamber of Deputies, Eduardo Cunha, against the procedural guidelines set by the court for the impeachment case against President Dilma Rousseff.
The statement document, filed late on Friday (Feb. 19), was requested by Justice Luís Roberto Barroso ahead of the hearing of the appeal in which Cunha seeks to change the Court ruling that revoked the election of a competing slate to make up the deputies' special committee on impeachment. Moreover, Cunha has claimed that senators, when acting as jurors in the impeachment case, should uphold the deputies' ruling on the president's impeachment.
The document signed by acting Attorney-General Fernando Luiz Albuquerque Faria argues that Cunha filed his appeal with the Supreme Court before the court's final decision was published. “How can you claim a decision is neglectful, inconsistent, or obscure, before it has even been issued?”, Rousseff's lawyer challenged.
Last December, the Court decided (by 6 votes to 5) that the impeachment committee would have to be made up of party representatives appointed by the party leaders, and there would be no competing slates. The ruling also disputed the deputies' stance on other issues, including the role of the Senate in the process.
The Senate Attorney also filed their statement on Friday (19) as requested by the Supreme Court, arguing that the Senate is not bound by the decision made by the Chamber of Deputies on impeachment.
Cunha's appeal was filed on February 1st. On February 5, Barroso decided that the president and the Senate should state their arguments regarding the appeal.
Next, the Attorney-General's and the Prosecutor-General's Offices will be heard on the matter and given deadlines to submit their opinions. Only after their statements have been filed will Justice Barroso make a ruling on the appeal. According to the justice, these steps are required because of the prominence of the case and in order to observe adversary proceeding and fair hearing principles.
Translated by Mayra Borges
Fonte: Rousseff asks Supreme Court to reject deputies' appeal in impeachment case
