New Witzel Impeachment Committee Approved by ALERJ

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – Meeting the STF Chief Justice Dias Toffoli’s ruling, the deputies of the Rio de Janeiro Legislative Assembly (ALERJ) decided on Tuesday, August 4th, on a new constitution of the special committee set up to analyze the impeachment proceedings against the governor of Rio, Wilson Witzel.

The new definition, which now meets the proportionality criteria defined by the Supreme Court, raises the number of committee members from 25 to 39 – an overall increase of 14 deputies.

On July 27th, Toffoli granted a request from the governor’s defense counsel for the impeachment committee to be restructured. Witzel’s attorneys claimed that the group’s composition disrespected the rules set by the Supreme Court itself. The ruling suspended the proceedings, initiated in June by the House.

According to the new rule, on the initial minimum of one deputy per party the percentage the party holds in the Assembly will be used, totaling the number of extra seats on its bench.

The party that gained most from the new rule was the PSL (Social Liberal Party), split between Witzel’s supporters and Bolsonarists, which will have three more members on the committee.

Solidariedade (Solidarity, social-democratic political party), Republicanos (Republicans), MDB (Brazilian Democratic Movement), PSC (Social Christian Party), PT (Worker’s Party), PP (Progressives), PSDB (Brazilian Social Democracy Party), and PDT (Democratic Labor Party) will each have one more member.

Novo (New Party), PSB (Brazilian Socialist Party), PROS (Republican Party of the Social Order), and DC (Christian Democracy) will have no additional members on their benches.

Despite the new rule, the Assembly is still waiting for the Supreme Court to examine the appeal lodged against Toffoli’s ruling and keep the committee in its current form.

The case was in the hands of Justice Luiz Fux, who declared his “incompatibility” to judge the case on Monday. A new rapporteur has not yet been selected.

Source: Veja