Impeachment. Witzel steps forward and submits defense to the Rio de Janeiro State Legislative Assembly

Wilson Witzel's (PSC) lawyers submitted, at the end of last Wednesday (2), the defense arguments of the suspended governor for the impeachment process opened in the Legislative Assembly of Rio de Janeiro (Alerj). The vote should take place by the 17th.

The Alerj notified the governor's defense on Tuesday (1st), as published in the state's Official Gazette, about the resumption of the impeachment process. The deadline would be until the session this Thursday (3), but was brought forward by the defense of the suspended governor.

Also on Wednesday (2), Witzel sent a message to the 70 deputies of Alerj saying that “RJ will suffer” if he leaves office, and asking for “understanding” from parliamentarians in the impeachment process against him.

With the presentation of Witzel's defense, the period of up to five sessions for analysis and preparation of the report that will go to the plenary for voting begins to count from this Thursday (3).

Rapporteur Rodrigo Bacelar (Solidarity) is expected to present the report, which will be voted on by the committee and then by the plenary. In other words, the document must be ready by the 17th.

The proceedings had been stalled since Supreme Federal Court (STF) Chief Justice Dias Tofoli accepted a defense request to change the composition of the impeachment committee. The decision was overturned by the rapporteur, Justice Alexandre de Moraes.