AMERICA/BRAZIL - Bishop Lara Barbosa on the “Clean Card Law”: “We are open to dialogue, but without changes in the law.”

Brasilia (Agenzia Fides) – The Movement for the fight against electoral corruption (MCCE) in Brazil, led by the Catholic Church and several social activists, today resubmitted its request to Congress not to amend the bill that vetoes the participation of candidates who have judicial proceedings in the October elections. The organization said it is open to dialogue to discuss the law (also called the “Clean Card Law”) that is being examined by the Chamber of Deputies, but opposes "radical changes" of the initiative that was proposed by Congress and the Parliament members of the opposition party.
The bill was delivered to Congress in September 2009 with the support of half a million signatures collected by MCCE. The vote is scheduled for March and the penalties, that come into force in the presidential, legislative, and gubernatorial elections in October, should be set no later than June.
"Brazilian society does not expect further delays in the discussion and approval of this theme that is among the primary interests of all citizens," said a statement written by the Secretary-General of the National Conference of Brazilian Bishops, Bishop Dimas Lara Barbosa. For high-level politicians covered by the "privileged forum", which allows them not to be judged by an ordinary judicial body, the proposed legislation provides a right of veto, without a first-degree conviction and would be sufficient that a court would accept the lawsuit. (CE) (Agenzia Fides 06/02/2010)