Brazil's top court suspends Lower House Speaker Eduardo Cunha

PanARMENIAN.Net - Brazil's top court has suspended Lower House Speaker Eduardo Cunha from his mandate, following a request by the country's attorney general, officials say, according to BBC News.

He has been accused of trying to obstruct a corruption investigation against him and intimidating lawmakers. Cunha is an outspoken critic of President Dilma Rousseff and has led an impeachment drive against her.

Next week, Brazil's Senate is due to vote on whether to launch an impeachment trial against her. If a simple majority votes in favour, she will be suspended from office for 180 days while Vice-President Michel Temer takes over as interim president.

Under Brazil's constitution, Cunha was the next in line for the presidency after Temer, who is facing impeachment proceedings on charges similar to those facing President Rousseff.

Rousseff has accused Temer and Cunha, who belong to the opposition PMDB party, of being the ringleaders of a "coup attempt" against her.

Cunha is suspected of obstructing an investigation into allegations he took $5m in bribes from companies seeking to secure contracts with state-oil giant Petrobras, which he denies.

Petrobras is at the centre of a massive kickbacks scandal which has led to the arrest of dozens of lawmakers and top businessmen.

Waldir Maranhao, who is also under investigation for his alleged role in the Petrobras corruption scandal, is to become the next Speaker of the House.