During the call, recorded earlier Wednesday by police and released by a federal judge, Rousseff called Lula on his bugged phone to tell him she would be sending him the official decree nominating him as her chief of staff so that he could make use of it "if necessary."
That extract was largely seen as confirmation that an aim of Lula's nomination to the post Wednesday was to spare him possible arrest for corruption.
Cabinet ministers can only be tried before the Supreme Court in Brazil and ministerial immunity will now protect Lula from prosecution in criminal court.
The recording was made public by federal judge Sergio Moro, who is heading a probe into Brazil's biggest ever corruption scandal.
Lula vigorously denies involvement in the scandal, in which investigators say construction companies conspired with Petrobras executives to overbill the oil giant to the tune of $2 billion, paying huge bribes to politicians and parties along the way.
The release of the recording caused an uproar in Congress, where furious opposition lawmakers shouted "Resign! Resign!"
Some 2,000 people spontaneously gathered in the capital Brasilia demanding that Lula step down and Rousseff leave office and to show their support Moro.
As night fell, another protest began in Sao Paulo, according to an AFP photographer.
"Resign! Resign!" shouted several thousand protesters at the foot of a highrise housing FIESP, a powerful federation of Sao Paulo industries that was illuminated in green and yellow -- Brazil's national colors -- in addition to a large inscription that read "Impeach now."
The presidency responded by announcing in a statement that "judicial and administrative measures" would be taken to "repair the flagrant violation of the law and the constitution committed by judge" Moro, without going into specifics...
[AFP -NEWZ.GR]
17/3/16
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Brazil's Rousseff condemns 'coup' as judge blocks Lula's appointment...
ReplyDeleteBrazilian President Dilma Rousseff swore in predecessor Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva as her new cabinet chief Thursday, but a judge quickly quashed the appointment amid allegations she was trying to protect him from corruption charges.
Rousseff attacked her enemies for trying to remove her in a "coup" as she sealed her risky bet to team up again with her old mentor, whose new position grants him ministerial immunity, protecting him from prosecution in criminal court.
She got as far as giving Lula a post-ceremony hug before federal judge Itagiba Catta Preta suspended the embattled ex-president's nomination to the cabinet chief post "or any other that grants him immunity."
The preliminary injunction, which must still be reviewed by a higher court, can be appealed.....AFP