Moraes Voids Chamber Vote, Orders Immediate Loss of Zambelli’s Mandate

Overview

• Supreme Court minister Alexandre de Moraes annulled the Chamber of Deputies’ decision that preserved Carla Zambelli’s seat and directed Speaker Hugo Motta to swear in her substitute within 48 hours.
• Moraes has already voted to confirm his ruling, classifying the Chamber’s act as unconstitutional and null and citing Article 55 and the automatic effect of a final criminal conviction.
• The Chamber’s plenary had rejected Zambelli’s cassation earlier, recording 227 votes for and 170 against, short of the 257 required for loss of mandate.
• PT leader Lindbergh Farias filed a mandado de segurança to force compliance and warned Motta could commit a crime of responsibility if he ignores the Court’s order.
• PL leader Sóstenes Cavalcante condemned the move and promised resistance, while Zambelli remains convicted to 10 years for the CNJ system invasion and detained in Italy pending extradition.