Brazil's Senate Speaker suspended from Parliament during his trial for corruption

Brazil's Senate Speaker Renan Calheiros was suspended from duties by a Supreme Court judge this Monday, pending his trial where he faces corruption charges. The event constitutes another blow to President Michel Temer's Administration. The decision, made by Marco Aurélio Mello, Minister of Federal Supreme Court, was effective immediately, but needs to be confirmed by a majority of Judges on the Supreme Court bench.

An opposition party, "Rede Sustentabilidade", had called for the suspension, arguing that an official in line for Presidential succession - as the Senate Speaker is - could not hold his position while facing trial. The Supreme Court ordered Calheiros to face trial for alleged embezzlement last week. He has denied accusations for using public funds to make maintenance payments to a woman with whom he had a child. In a separate case, Calheiros is also among numerous top politicians including an ex-President and lawmakers accused of helping steal billions from state-owned oil firm Petrobras.

Protesters on Sunday held demonstrations demanding Calheiros' ouster, with a crowd in Brasilia chanting “Lock Renan up!” as they performed a mock funeral with a coffin inscribed “corruption.”
Calheiros had tried unsuccessfully last week to push through an urgent reform that would challenge judges' powers to investigate corruption.

Source: Congresso em Foco, Mercopress Agency