Marcela Rebelo
Reporter - Agência Brasil

Brasília - The reporter of the Joint Parliamentary Investigation Commission (CPMI) on Vote-Buying, federal deputy Ibrahim Abi-Ackel (PP-MG), informed his fellow members of the commission today that he has chosen two assistant reporters to help him in his task. They are deputy Zulaiê Cobra (PSDB-SP) and senator Rodolfo Tourinho (PFL-BA).

The fact that the two assistants represent opposition parties aroused discussions among members of the commission. Abi-Ackel affirmed, nevertheless, that at no time did he take this factor into account. "There was no partisan purpose in the nominations," he commented.

He pointed out that Tourinho is a former bank director and can, as such, be useful to the work of the commission. In his view, deputy Cobra can also make a big contribution in consequence of her experience as general reporter of the bill to reform the Judiciary.

"I believe that both of them will be able to offer technical services of great avail to the commission," he affirmed. The reporter did not rule out the possibility of naming more lawmakers to help expedite the work of the commission.

The president of the CPMI, senator Amir Lando (PMDB-RO), observed that the nomination of assistant reporters is a prerogative of the heads of the commission and, therefore, does not need to be put to a vote. The members of the commission are meeting today to vote on various petitions.

Translation: David Silberstein