Brazil’s Collor Demands Right to Defend Himself

President Fernando Collor de Mello, fighting to forestall his impeachment, demanded Tuesday that the National Congress allow his lawyers to examine evidence against him, call witnesses on his behalf and present a complete legal defense before a vote is taken.

The move is part of an all-out struggle by Collor for political survival. Unless the president’s legal wranglings manage to delay it, a vote on impeachment in the 503-seat Chamber of Deputies could come as early as next week. Collor, 43, needs one-third of the votes to prevent his suspension for 180 days and trial on corruption charges by the Senate, the Congress’ upper house.

He would be the first president ever impeached in Latin America’s largest country, where military intervention has been a more traditional way of resolving political crises.

In a 60-page document sent Tuesday to a chamber committee on impeachment, Collor’s lawyers argued that the constitution gives him the right to defend himself fully now. His opponents, however, contend that the defense should come later, in the Senate trial.

The Supreme Court is expected to issue a ruling today that may clarify which side is right. The court previously had given Collor until Tuesday to present a written defense.

In the document delivered Tuesday evening, Collor’s lawyers did not respond directly to charges that the president received millions of dollars in illicit funds from an influence-peddling and contract-skimming scheme allegedly masterminded by his former campaign chairman.

Instead, the lawyers said the requested evidence and additional proceedings are “absolutely indispensable for the exercise of the right of defense and therefore cannot be denied.”

Although Collor opponents hold an ample majority on the special impeachment committee, Chairman Gastone Righi supports the president.