Assembly Committee Approves Opinion Calling for Rio Governor’s Impeachment

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – On Thursday afternoon, September 17th, the special committee of the Legislative Assembly of Rio (ALERJ) that analyzed Wilson Witzel‘s impeachment approved an opinion arguing for his impeachment.

The governor has already been temporarily removed by a Federal Superior Court (STJ) ruling and is now facing the political process. Rapporteur Rodrigo Bacellar’s document will be submitted to the full ALERJ next week, when the House will vote, either for or against Witzel.

By the publication of this report, the 25-deputy committee had the 13 votes required to proceed with the case – no deputy voted against it. In plenary, the vote of a two-thirds majority, or 47 deputies, will be required to impeach the governor. Should this quorum be reached, the House will establish a mixed court with judicial and legislative members, to decide for or against the termination of the governor’s mandate.

In the opinion approoved this Thursday, Bacellar speaks of “disregard for life and opportunism on misfortune,” given that Witzel is accused of taking advantage of the pandemic to engage in acts of corruption, among other misdeeds.

In his 77 pages, the rapporteur mainly stresses the occasions when the governor allegedly signed contracts with the social organizations Unir Saúde and Iabas, accused of having as owner entrepreneur Mário Peixoto, the center of the recent corruption scandals in Health.

In Unir’s case, in March Witzel signed the company’s requalification. In October 2019, following opinions, the Chief of Staff and Health Secretariats had disqualified the company, given the evidence of irregularities.

The governor has been the target of two indictments by the Federal Prosecutor’s Office, the first for corruption and money laundering, and the second for allegedly leading a criminal organization. Witzel denies the charges, which he considers “frivolous”. He says he will prove his innocence, but claims that he is having his defense rights curtailed.

Yesterday morning’s session was attended by 18 deputies in person and six by videoconference. The committee’s chair, Chico Machado, has Covid-19 and as such presided over the vote from home. João Peixoto, who also has Covid-19 but is hospitalized, failed to attend.

Even Witzel’s party colleague Léo Vieira voted with the rapporteur. He referred to the opinion as “brilliant”. Author of the impeachment petition, Luiz Paulo, Dean of the ALERJ, also congratulated Bacellar and recalled the role of the President of the House, André Ceciliano, in conducting the work.

“It’s time for us to put a stop to this corrupt plutarchy established in Rio de Janeiro, this spurious alliance between corporate and political sectors,” he said.

NEXT STEPS IN WITZEL’S IMPEACHMENT

– The result of yesterday’s vote will be published in the state Official Gazette this Friday, September 18th.

– As of next Monday, September 21st, the 48-hour period begins for the opinion to be included in the ALERJ agenda.

– The document should be voted on Wednesday, September 23rd, but the vote may take more than one day.

– The text prepared in the vote is published in the official State Gazette.

– If the outcome is favorable to the governor’s removal, the state Court of Appeals is convened to form a special mixed court having ten members – five sitting judges and five state deputies.

– Once the special court to review the annulment of Witzel’s mandate is formed, the governor is automatically removed from office for up to 180 days, although he is currently removed from office by a Federal Superior Court.

Source: Estadão Conteúdo