Luciana Vasconcelos
Reporter - Agência Brasil

Brasília - By Thursday (22), the General Disciplinary Office of the Chamber of Deputies wants to hear the defense of the 16 deputies cited in the combined report of the Joint Parliamentary Investigative Commissions (CPMIs) on the Post Office and Vote Buying.

The General Disciplinary Office decided to hear the legislators after the Federal Supreme Court (STF) granted an injunction that prohibits forwarding the motion calling for their mandates to be revoked to the Ethics Council, until they have an opportunity to address the Congress. The legislators have a period of 5 legislative sessions, from the time they are notified, to present their defense, which can also be submitted in writing.

The first to be heard, today (20), was deputy Pedro Henry (PP-MT). Ex-deputy Roberto Jefferson affirmed that Henry was one of those who received monthly allowance payments (the "mensalão") to vote with the government and that he pressed the PTB to accept the money. Henry once again denied the accusations and requested that the motion against him be shelved.

Translation: David Silberstein