Brasília - Last night the Chamber of Deputies rejected the expulsion of deputy Romeu Queiroz (PTB-MG) for supposed involvement in a congressional payment scheme ("mensalão"). The vote on the expulsion of Queiroz, which was recommended by the Ethics Council, was the first of a deputy who received money from Marcos Valerio, who was supposedly the moneyman in the payment scheme. Queiroz reportedly received US$198,000 (R$450,000). With 443 deputies casting ballots in a secret vote, Queiroz got 250 votes against his expulsion and 193 in favor of expulsion (257 votes were necessary to expel him).

Deputy Júlio Delgado (PSB-MG) declared that other deputies accused of participation in the Marcos Valerio payment scheme will seek to use the Queiroz vote as a precedent, allowing them to get off the hook. Meanwhile, deputy Chico Alencar (Psol-RJ) said that the vote showed there was no political will to punish anyone else (only deputies Roberto Jefferson and Jose Dirceu have been expelled). "With this vote the Congress is more distant than ever from recovering the respect of Brazilian society," he said.

Translation: Allen Bennett