Legislator Rodrigo Maia could be Brazil’s third head of state in about a year
Brasilia — The scion of a storied political clan is edging closer to being Brazil’s third president in just over a year, a change that would be blessed by business elites who view House speaker Rodrigo Maia as the easiest solution to a political crisis. President Michel Temer is charged with corruption and is likely to face at least two more graft charges in the coming weeks. He can only be tried by the Supreme Court if two-thirds of the lower house of Congress vote to allow it. Temer, who replaced Dilma Rousseff last August after she was ousted by the Senate, is expected to survive the first vote, which is set for August 2. But it is increasingly likely he could lose votes on subsequent charges, key legislators in Temer’s coalition and opposition have told Reuters in recent days. If that happens, Temer would be suspended for 180 days, replaced temporarily by Maia. If Temer is convicted by the top court, Maia could serve out the remainder of his term, which runs to the end of 2018, ...
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