Page 12 - ARUBA TODAY

A12 WORLD NEWS
Wednesday 2 august 2017

Brazil’s president faces congressional vote on his future

By MAURICIO SAVARESE tions for many legislators
Associated Press at a time the country is
SAO PAULO (AP) — For Bra- struggling to emerge from
zilian leaders, August is the its worst recession in de-
cruelest month — and one cades.
that now presents a poten- Temer is accused of receiv-
tially fatal challenge to the ing bribes indirectly, via a
presidency of Michel Te- confidant who was caught
mer. by police carrying a suit-
In modern times, August has case with about $150,000
been a devastating month in cash.
for Brazilian presidents, 31 The case erupted in
days in which they have May when a recording
been impeached or re- emerged in which Temer
signed. One even commit- apparently tells a meat-
ted suicide. Temer’s own packing company execu-
predecessor, President Dil- tive to keep up paying
ma Rousseff, was removed of hush money to former
last Aug. 31 for breaking Chamber of Deputies
fiscal rules in her manage- Speaker Eduardo Cunha,
ment of the budget. who is serving a 15-year
Temer is facing his own Au- sentence for corruption.
gust showdown — a vote Temer has denied wrong-
in Congress’ lower house Brazil’s president Michel Temer gestures during his visit to the operations control center at the doing and he adamantly
Wednesday on whether he Army’s headquarters in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Sunday, July. 30, 2017. For Brazilian leaders, August rejected calls for him to re-
should be suspended and is the cruelest month — and one that now presents a potentially fatal challenge to the presidency sign from across the politi-
put on trial over a bribery of Michel Temer. (AP Photo/Leo Correa) cal spectrum.
charge filed against him by Until a few weeks ago,
Brazil’s attorney general. tion of justice accusation “Even if he wins now Couto said Temer has been the president appeared
Opposition lawmakers feel that Attorney General Ro- (Wednesday) it won’t be using much of his political to have an ample margin
confident about adding drigo Janot could bring be- over,” said Claudio Couto, capital to curry support of support among the 513
Temer to the list of August fore the end of the month. a political science profes- ahead of Wednesday’s members of the Chamber
casualties, either this week The latter would bring its sor at Fundacao Getulio vote, including the prom- of Deputies.
with the bribery charge own vote by the Chamber Vargas, a Sao Paulo-based ising of billions of dollars Chamber Speaker Ro-
vote or in a likely obstruc- of Deputies. university and think tank. in earmarked appropria- drigo Maia, an ally of the
president, has said that for
much of July, he was con-
Puerto Rico university seeks to double fees amid crisis fident that Temer would
have “a comfortable win”
in the vote by the house,
By DANICA COTO Puerto Rico could pay up The university on Tuesday is pled with the strike led to where the governing coali-
Associated Press to $115 per credit instead expected to submit its fiscal the resignation of several tion has remained strong
SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico of $56, while those seeking plan to the federal control top university officials, in- enough on some issues to
(AP) — Puerto Rico’s larg- a master’s degree could board overseeing Puerto cluding two presidents and pass legislation.
est public university says pay $270 instead of $140 Rico’s finances. three board members. Stu- But as August approached,
it is planning to double its per credit under plans ap- It is the latest hit for a uni- dent leaders rejected the news got worse for the
course fees following de- proved late Monday by the versity that reopened proposed increases and president. Last week, an
mands that it slash its bud- university board. in June following a two- said they would limit ac- Ibope institute opinion poll
get amid a dire economic The fees would go into ef- month strike organized by cess to education for thou- said just 5 percent of Bra-
crisis. fect next year, and offi- students protesting $450 sands of people living on zilians surveyed approved
Starting next year, students cials warn that another 20 million in proposed budget an island with a 12 percent of Temer. Adding to the
seeking a bachelor’s de- percent increase could be cuts sought by the control unemployment rate and a pressure, the vote of every
gree at the University of implemented if needed. board. The demands cou- 45 percent poverty rate.q deputy will be public. q