Temer's victory goes beyond the limits of unethical behavior, says political scientist.

Sputnik - The victory of Michel Temer and his ministers Eliseu Padilha (Chief of Staff) and Moreira Franco (Secretary of the Presidency) in the Chamber of Deputies crosses the line of ethics. This is according to political scientist Antonio Marcelo Jackson in an interview with Sputnik Brasil, one day after the president defeated the second accusation against him.

Also a historian and professor in the Department of Education and Technologies at the Federal University of Ouro Preto, in Minas Gerais, Jackson sees merit in the opposition's arguments that Temer's victory was obtained at the cost of "buying votes" and "selling laws and decrees," as denounced by many.

Last Wednesday, the 25th, by a vote of 251 to 233, with 2 abstentions and 25 absences, the Chamber of Deputies decided to approve the report by Deputy Bonifácio de Andrada (PSDB-MG), recommending the dismissal of the complaint filed by former Attorney General Rodrigo Janot against Michel Temer and his two ministers for criminal organization and obstruction of justice. The rapporteur considered the complaint inept and without legal basis, and was followed by 251 of his peers.

The days leading up to the vote were marked by intense meetings between Michel Temer, his closest ministers, and various parliamentarians, many of whom were granted generous funds to support their proposed budget amendments. Initial estimates valued these funds at 12 billion reais, a figure later corrected to 32 billion reais. But, ultimately, how much did Michel Temer's second victory in the Chamber of Deputies cost? Antonio Marcelo Jackson answers that question:

"Regarding our pockets, it cost a real fortune. The amount of funds released for [parliamentary] amendments goes beyond the limits of unethical behavior. Machiavelli, when he stated more than 500 years ago that politics is practiced without ethics, meant the following: 'Look, I believe in such and such, and when I vote on something, I negotiate it in exchange for some other idea or for you approving one of my proposals.' In short, that's what happened."

Antonio Marcelo Jackson also commented on whether, with this second consecutive victory in the Chamber, the president will be held hostage by the blocs that secured his triumph:

"Our model of coalition presidentialism makes the President of the Republic a hostage of the National Congress. Now, being a hostage and allying oneself with a lack of scruples is another story. Because Collor was a hostage of Congress, Fernando Henrique was, Lula was, and Dilma was. But what has been happening is something else. We have the issue of the reforms being processed in Congress. And how are they being handled between the Executive and Legislative branches? Simply, through the purchase of votes. And what does that mean? That this government no longer has any credibility with the population. But for part of this National Congress, this doesn't matter, because it supports the government, even though the number of these supporters is decreasing."

Regarding the possibility of the deputies' decision influencing the population's vote in the 2018 general elections, the expert highlights the argument of the irrationality of voting, which is very common in Political Science. According to him, voters literally vote for anything, due to their "traditionally short memory".

"So, this means that congressmen act according to their own convenience. For example, the press is reporting that Michel Temer has been experiencing a decrease in the number of his supporters in Congress. And why is this happening? Due to political differences? Simply out of the self-interest of those who intend to be re-elected next year and/or elect their candidates. And the others who maintain their support are counting on the aforementioned irrationality of the vote. It is quite true that, when we reach May/June of next year, the conversation will be different. But, until then, what we will unfortunately have is this scenario: a group of federal deputies who, since last year, have concluded that they no longer need to represent society and, with the distance from the elections, are certain that they can do anything. And, on the other hand, we have Mr. Michel Temer aware that he can count on this."

With the dismissal of the charges against Michel Temer, Eliseu Padilha, and Moreira Franco, the Supreme Federal Court will not be able to review the document, and the proceedings against the three defendants will be suspended until the end of their term on December 31, 2018. However, from January 1, 2019, the case will be subject to review by the First Instance Courts, the so-called Common Courts, unless they no longer have special jurisdiction or privileged jurisdiction from that date onwards.