Brazil Supreme Court Rejects 2 Bids by Collor
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RIO DE JANERIO — The Brazilian Supreme Court dealt a stunning blow Wednesday to President Fernando Collor de Mello in his fight against impeachment, denying his request for more time to contest charges against him in the lower house of Congress. The court’s decision also rejected Collor’s arguments that the impeachment vote should be secret.
“The elector should vote secretly, not the elected,” said Justice Octavio Galloti in his prevailing opinion.
Collor’s supporters had hoped for a secret vote to avoid public pressure for a “yes” vote on impeachment. They also want to postpone the decisive vote for as long as possible.
One of Collor’s key tactics against impeachment is legal appeals aimed at delaying the chamber’s decisive vote until after the first round of municipal elections Oct. 3. More than 80 deputies are running for mayoralties, and the Collor administration is betting that they will be less sensitive to public pressure in favor of impeachment after the elections.
If impeached by the lower house, Collor would have the opportunity for a full defense in his trial by the Senate. During the trial he would be suspended from office.
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