Brazil: Lawmakers to decide on Eduardo Cunha's future today

In a sitting slated for 7 pm Monday (Sep. 12), the Brazilian lower house is to resume the proceedings on the future of its former speaker, Federal Deputy Eduardo Cunha. The lawmaker answers to charges filed by the Council of Ethics of the Chamber of Deputies for allegedly having lied saying he holds no bank accounts overseas.

Marcos Rogério, the council member spearheading the case, will be the first to speak in the meeting and will be given 25 minutes to argue why Cunha should be stripped of his mandate.

Cunha's lawyers will have the same time to rebut Rogério's arguments. Eduardo Cunha has confirmed he is to attend the session. He too may speak, in which case he is to be allotted the same amount of minutes for his defense.

Lawmakers also interested in having a say will be given five minutes to speak upon request. This stage may be interrupted after the fourth congress member, if the majority chooses to do so.

The deputies will be called to vote individually, and have their stance displayed on a screen. A total 257 votes are necessary to revoke Cunha's license, which corresponds to the simple majority in a group of 513 lawmakers.

Eduardo Cunha is to be backed by his allies, who may raise points of order. Cunha wishes to have his political rights the object of a separate vote, as was the case in the final session on the impeachment of former President Dilma Rousseff at the Senate.

Translated by Fabrício Ferreira

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