Lower house committee rejects second round of charges against Temer

A special lower house committee approved 39-26 a report recommending the rejection of the second round of charges against President Michel Temer. The president is being accused of obstruction of justice and criminal organization.

Chief of Staff Eliseu Padilha and the president's Secretary-General Moreira Franco are also targeted by the criminal organization charges.

In two days of debates, 61 deputies uttered an opinion on the report drafted by fellow lawmaker Bonifácio de Andrada. Only 13 openly supported the president and his ministers.

Most of those who took the microphone mentioned there is enough evidence to advance probes. Government allies, in turn, argued that evidence is flimsy and that neither the president nor the cabinet members should be ousted for accusations by criminals with plea bargain deals.

The charges will also be submitted to the full house for vote next week. The case moves on to the Supreme Court if it gets the support of at least 342 deputies—two thirds of Brazil's lower house members.

The accusations are partly based on the plea bargain statements by foreign currency dealer Lúcio Funaro. This is the second round of charges targeting the president filed by prosecutors.

The first charges, rejected in August by Congress, centered on the statement by executive Joesley Batista, a partner at meatpacking giant JBS.

Translated by Fabrício Ferreira