Page 12 - ARUBA TODAY

A12 WORLD NEWS
Tuesday 8 augusT 2017

Brazil attorney general says Temer could face new charges

thug.” Temer, then vice the Chamber of Deputies,
president, took over the forcing lawmakers again
presidency last year when to decide whether to con-
President Dilma Rousseff tinue supporting a deeply
was impeached for illegally unpopular president a year
managing the federal bud- before elections. All 513
get. His administration has seats of the house are up
been rocked by repeated for election next year.
scandals. The latest began Janot’s successor, Raquel
a few months ago, when Dodge, was hand-picked
a recording emerged that by Temer despite not being
apparently captured him the most voted by the Na-
endorsing the continued tional Association of Feder-
payments of hush mon- al Attorneys. Several former
ey to former lower house attorneys general have
Speaker Eduardo Cunha, had that distinction when
currently serving a 15-year selected by the president.
sentence for corruption. It In an interview with daily
also came to light that Te- Estado de Sao Paulo last
mer was being investigat- week, Temer said changes
ed for planning to receive in the attorney general’s of-
millions in bribes for helping fice “will put investigations
meat-packing giant JBS in back on its right course.”
Brazil’s President Michel Temer, left, leans over to listen to Sao Paulo Mayor Joao Doria, during a a business dispute. Temer, whose approval
ceremony to announce the creation of a new park and museum at the City Hall, in Sao Paulo, Janot came forward with rating was 5 percent in the
Brazil, Monday, Aug. 7, 2017.
(AP Photo/Andre Penner) the bribery charge in June. latest national poll, is try-
Temer denies wrongdo- ing to overhaul pension
By LILIANA MICHELENA es of racketeering and ob- pockets with millions of dol- ing, and argues there is and tax laws in an attempt
Associated Press struction of justice. lars in illicit payments. no proof he ever received to get the economy back
RIO DE JANEIRO (AP) — The comments by Attorney Janot said the chamber’s money. Janot’s term as on track. Further charges
Brazil’s attorney general General Ricardo Janot, decision didn’t help Brazil Brazil’s top lawman ends could put extra pressure on
strongly criticized Con- published by the news- solve a long-standing politi- Sept. 17, meaning his time his already weakening co-
gress’ lower house Monday paper Folha de S. Paulo, cal crisis. is running short to bring alition, derailing the reform
for voting against putting came just days after the “A political solution can’t more charges against Te- agenda. Temer sought to
President Michel Temer on Chamber of Deputies vot- be treating a thug as a mer, which he has been get his agenda back on
trial for bribery, adding that ed against sending Temer politician,” he said. “A thug expected to do. track Monday, in part by
plea bargains being nego- to trial for allegedly orches- who hides behind politics A second charge would shoring up support with
tiated could lead to charg- trating a scheme to line his is not a politician, but a provoke another vote in parties in his coalition.q

Puerto Rico hit with 2 lawsuits challenging board’s power

By DANICA COTO general obligation bonds, void,” Aurelius said in its Obama from a list submit- and apply to all public em-
Associated Press among other debt. It is the lawsuit. ted by congressional lead- ployees except police.
SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico (AP) same hedge fund that was A spokesman for the board ers of both parties: three Puerto Rico Gov. Ricardo
— Puerto Rico was hit with involved in a 15-year dis- declined to comment on a members from the Demo- Rossello has said he will not
two lawsuits Monday that pute over defaulted bonds pending legal matter. cratic list and four from the impose furloughs and will
for the first time challenge issued by Argentina. Last year, the U.S. Congress Republican one. go to court if needed seek-
the constitutionality of a The second lawsuit was approved a law that cre- The board recently an- ing to block them.
federal control board over- filed by the UTIER, a Puerto ated the board in response nounced it would go to “If they send me to jail, so
seeing the island’s finances Rico union that represents to the Puerto Rico govern- court to restructure a por- be it,” he told radio station
and its power to start a about a third of the 9,550 ment’s financial crisis. The tion of the island’s public WKAQ on Monday.
bankruptcy-like court pro- employees at the island’s measure gives the island a debt after negotiations Puerto Rico has spent more
cess for some of the U.S. ter- Electric Power Authority. way to restructure its debts with creditors fell apart than a decade in a reces-
ritory’s more than $70 billion Both argue that the board’s since there are no federal amid multimillion-dollar de- sion that has left the gov-
public debt. seven members were never or local laws allowing its mu- faults that have sparked a ernment short of revenues
One of the lawsuits was filed approved by the U.S. Sen- nicipalities or public agen- flurry of lawsuits. The board and also prompted nearly
by U.S. hedge fund Aure- ate and thus they have no cies to declare bankruptcy. also has demanded more a half million people to flee
lius Capital Management, power. Board members were cho- austerity measures for the the island in search of jobs
which holds more than “Because the board is un- sen by the administration of government, including fur- and a more affordable
$470 million in Puerto Rico constitutional, its acts are then U.S. President Barack loughs that will start Sept. 1 cost of living.q