Brazilian lawmaker invalidates presidential impeachment vote
RIO DE JANEIRO — The acting speaker of the lower house of Brazil’s Congress on Monday annulled last month’s vote on impeachment, complicating the process that was widely expected to see embattled President Dilma Rousseff suspended later this week.
Opposition leaders threatened to appeal the decision to the Supreme Court, and observers say the government could do the same if the Senate decides to ignore the request and hold the proceedings anyway.
Rousseff is battling impeachment over allegations her government violated fiscal rules, in what critics say was a bid to prop up the country’s flagging economy.
Maranhao took over the reins in the Chamber of Deputies, after former Speaker Eduardo Cunha — the driving force behind the impeachment effort — was removed from office over corruption and obstruction of justice allegations against him.