Luciana Vasconcelos
Reporter - Agência Brasil

Brasília - The Ethics Council of the Chamber of Deputies approved an opinion emitted by the legislative legal counsel barring the Council from dismissing any suit to revoke legislators' mandates. According to the legal counsel, once it has been instituted, the process no longer depends upon the will of the representative. As a result, even if the Brazilian Workers' Party (PTB) withdraws the motions against deputies José Dirceu (PT-SP) and Sandro Mabel (PL-GO), the cases will continue to be subject to the Council's deliberations.

The president of the Council, Ricardo Izar (PTB-SP), explained that a process, when it is filed with the Council, becomes part of the "public domain." He affirmed, however, that anyone who feels harmed by the decision has the right to appeal to the Consitution and Justice Commission or the presiding body of the Chamber.

Translation: David Silberstein