Impeachment Vote Set for Today in Brazil

A scheduled showdown vote today in Brazil’s lower house of Congress could impeach President Fernando Collor de Mello, authorizing the Senate to try him on charges of corruption. If impeached, Collor would be suspended for 180 days pending the trial.

Although the timing for the suspension is not clear, Vice President Itamar Franco could replace Collor as early as Wednesday at the helm of Latin America’s biggest nation.

Pro-impeachment forces in the Chamber of Deputies said Monday that they have the two-thirds majority required for impeachment. The president’s supporters predicted that the motion will fail. Independent analysts called it a cliffhanger.

If the impeachment motion fails, many politicians warn that violent protests could break out in Brazilian cities. Authorities in Brasilia planned to mobilize 10,000 police to control demonstrations by 100,000 people or more during the chamber’s planned roll-call vote.

Even if Collor is not impeached, Brazil’s independent attorney general said he plans to file separate criminal charges against him in the Supreme Court.

The motion for impeachment in the chamber says Collor’s private household received millions of dollars from his former campaign treasurer, who is accused of organizing a ring for graft and influence-peddling after Collor took office in 1990. Collor has denied any wrongdoing.

Monday afternoon, the chamber began final debate on the impeachment motion.

Jose Lourenco, one of the few deputies who spoke against impeachment, said the 10 days given for Collor to prepare a defense in the chamber were not enough.