Lower House wants to impeach 10% of its members

The Ethics Comission of the Brazilian Chamber of Deputies (lower house of Congress) officially opened impeachment proceedings against 67 of its members on Tuesday. They are accused of embezzling public health funds in a scandal that became known as the 'Sanguessuga' Mafia, or 'bloodsuckers' case.

Partners from a company that sold ambulances to municipalities told police they bribed mayors and congressmen to win public supplier selections and sell their products at a higher price.
The proceedings should start early in September, but run the risk of not achieving their goals before the end of the current legislative session. Elections for the Lower House take place in October, alongside the presidential elections in Brazil. Only two of the congressmen being investigated have resigned voluntarily so far.

The number of Lower House members being investigate is more than 10 percent of the total number of members in that house. Recently, another unrelated scandal caused the resignation of important members of government, accused of bribing opposing congressmen to obtain their support during certain voting sessions in Congress. Even then, the president is still favoured to win a second term in the upcoming elections.