Iolando Lourenço
Reporter Agência Brasil

Brasília - Preparations are underway for the election of a new president of the Chamber of Deputies. The acting president, the former first vice president, Jose Thomaz Nonô (PFL-AL), has convoked a meeting today to discuss the details of the election. According to the Chamber's internal rules, the election could take place as soon as next week.

The Brazilian Chamber of Deputies has 513 members. In order to be elected president a simple majority of 257 votes are needed. If no one gets a simple majority, the two candidates with the most votes face each other in a runoff election. The voting is secret.

Translator: Allen Bennett