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WORLD NEWS Friday 14 July 2017

Committee rejects graft charge in boost to Brazil leader

By MAURICIO SAVARESE vote against Temer, lower corruption to be heroes
SARAH DiLORENZO house Speaker Rodrigo and those who think some
Associated Press Maia would take over pres- of the prosecutions are po-
SAO PAULO (AP) — A con- idential duties while Brazil’s litically motivated.
gressional committee re- Supreme Court tried the A day after being con-
jected a recommendation president. victed of corruption, for-
to try Brazil’s president for After the contentious com- mer President Luiz Inacio
corruption, handing him mittee vote, which occa- Lula da Silva stoked those
a symbolic victory Thurs- sionally descended into flames Thursday with a de-
day a day after a former shouting matches, some fiant public defense accus-
president was convicted of lawmakers cried “Temer ing his political opponents
graft. The corruption cases out!” and “Purchased of trying to prevent him
against two major Brazilian vote!” Others responded from becoming president
figures underscored the with “Long live Temer!” again.
extent of political turmoil Some lawmakers com- A federal judge found Sil-
in Latin America’s largest plained that the extensive va guilty Wednesday and
country, where a spread- substitution of committee sentenced him to nearly
ing corruption investigation members in recent days Brazil’s President Michel Temer speaks during a ceremony in 10 years in prison, though
Brasilia, Brazil, Tuesday, July 11, 2017. A congressional commit-
has uncovered a scheme made the committee vote tee rejected a recommendation to try Brazil’s president for cor- the charismatic leader re-
to exchange bribes and a farce. Party leaders have ruption, handing him a symbolic victory Thursday a day after a mains free while an appeal
kickbacks for political fa- the right to replace their former president was convicted of graft. is heard.
vors and public contracts. members on committees (AP Photo/Eraldo Peres) The man popularly known
That probe has led to an as they see fit, and Brazil- as simply “Lula” told sup-
accusation that President ian media reported that bid to guarantee the vote has led to political tensions porters the court had no
Michel Temer accepted parties allied with Temer went the president’s way. in Brazil between those proof and the conviction
bribes from a meatpack- made several such substi- The mammoth “Operation who consider the prosecu- was politically motivated.
ing executive in exchange tutions — in an apparent Car Wash” investigation tors and judges pursuing q
for helping the company
obtain favorable govern-
ment decisions. Temer has Jet blast at St. Maarten’s seaside airport kills tourist
denied wrongdoing.
Earlier this week, a law- PHILIPSBURG, St. Maarten was declared dead. Her not stand by the fence at tiny territory.“Many people
maker appointed to study (AP) — A New Zealand name wasn’t released. the Princess Juliana Inter- come just for the thrill of this
Temer’s case recom- tourist has been killed by Henson said hundreds of national Airport, which is main attraction, and unfor-
mended that the charge the blast from a jetliner tak- tourists regularly ignore less than 200 feet (60 me- tunately this time someone
be accepted, a setback ing off at a seaside airport multiple warning signs to ters) from the beach in the lost their life,” he said.q
for Temer. But on Thursday, in the Dutch Caribbean
a Chamber of Deputies territory of St. Maarten, of-
committee rejected that ficials said Thursday.
recommendation, swing- The 57-year-old woman
ing the pendulum back in was knocked into a wall
Temer’s favor. as she tried to cling to a WE ARE CELEBRATING
Both moves are largely fence to feel the blast 1 YEAR ANNIVERSARY
ST
symbolic. The decision to on Wednesday, police
suspend Temer and put spokesman Ricardo Hen-
him on trial rests with the full son said by phone. He said
lower house: If two-thirds the woman was taken to
of the 513 deputies should the hospital, where she

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