Brazil state governor may be charged without approval of local councilors

In a session held Wednesday (May 3), Brazil's Supreme Court voted 8-2 to make charging Minas Gerais Governor Fernando Pimentel possible under Operation Acronym, launched by the Federal Police.

Most justices regarded as unconstitutional a rule in the Constitution of Minas Gerais state which only allows criminal charges to be lodged with the Superior Court of Justice against the governor after permission is given by the local legislative assembly.

The case reached Brazil's top court through a motion filed by center-right party DEM, which described the Minas Gerais requirement as unconstitutional and requests the Supreme Court to state there is no need for such permission.

Translated by Fabrício Ferreira