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Brazil: Speaker Eduardo Cunha leaves government Brazil: Speaker Eduardo Cunha leaves government
(34 minutes later)
The speaker of Brazil's lower house of Congress has said he is leaving the governing coalition. The Speaker of Brazil's lower house of Congress, Eduardo Cunha, has announced he is leaving the governing coalition.
The defection of Eduardo Cunha, and his threat to take his party with him, is a further blow to the embattled President, Dilma Rousseff. The defection, and Mr Cunha's threat to take his party with him, is a blow to embattled President Dilma Rousseff.
Mr Cunha is being investigated as part of a corruption scandal at state-run oil giant Petrobas, accused of demanding a $5m (£3.2m) bribe. Mr Cunha has accused the government and Prosecutor General Rodrigo Janot of conspiring to incriminate him in a widening corruption scandal at state-run oil firm Petrobras.
Without Mr Cunha's PMDB party, Ms Rousseff has no majority in Congress.Without Mr Cunha's PMDB party, Ms Rousseff has no majority in Congress.
Mr Cunha has accused Ms Rousseff's government and the prosecutor general, Rodrigo Janot, of conspiring to incriminate him in the scandal, which involves construction companies and political parties as well as Petrobas.
"I cannot accept that the government uses its machinery to seek the political persecution of those who turn against it," Mr Cunha said in Brasilia."I cannot accept that the government uses its machinery to seek the political persecution of those who turn against it," Mr Cunha said in Brasilia.
On Thursday, Mr Cunha threatened to allow impeachment proceedings to begin against Ms Rousseff over alleged campaign finance irregularities. His defection followed allegations made this week by a jailed former consultant to Petrobras, Julio Camargo, that Mr Cunha had demanded a $5m (£3.2m) bribe to push through contracts for equipment.
He said he would be considering the legal arguments within the next 30 days.
Mr Cunha's defection followed evidence given this week by a jailed former consultant to Petrobras, Julio Camargo, that Mr Cunha had demanded the alleged bribe to push through contracts for equipment.
Mr Cunha has denied any involvement, and said Ms Rousseff and Mr Janot were unfairly dragging congressmen into the Petrobras investigations.Mr Cunha has denied any involvement, and said Ms Rousseff and Mr Janot were unfairly dragging congressmen into the Petrobras investigations.
His name had appeared earlier this year alongside those of dozens of other congressmen on a list of people whom the police reportedly wanted to interview in relation to the scandal.His name had appeared earlier this year alongside those of dozens of other congressmen on a list of people whom the police reportedly wanted to interview in relation to the scandal.
The real losers in Brazil's Petrobras scandalThe real losers in Brazil's Petrobras scandal
Thirty-four congressmen and one state vice-governor are under investigation for taking bribes.Thirty-four congressmen and one state vice-governor are under investigation for taking bribes.
Investigators allege firms paid corrupt officials in order to get lucrative Petrobras contracts.Investigators allege firms paid corrupt officials in order to get lucrative Petrobras contracts.
President Dilma Rousseff, who chaired Petrobras when much of the corruption is believed to have taken place, has been cleared of involvement.President Dilma Rousseff, who chaired Petrobras when much of the corruption is believed to have taken place, has been cleared of involvement.
Analysts say Mr Cunha's opposition to Ms Rousseff could become a major obstacle for any legislation proposed by her government, at a time when it is trying to introduce public spending cuts to stave off recession.Analysts say Mr Cunha's opposition to Ms Rousseff could become a major obstacle for any legislation proposed by her government, at a time when it is trying to introduce public spending cuts to stave off recession.
Mr Cunha, an evangelical Christian, is seen as a possible presidential candidate in 2018.Mr Cunha, an evangelical Christian, is seen as a possible presidential candidate in 2018.