Troubled Brazilian speaker quits

By Gary Duffy
BBC News, Sao Paulo

Renan Calheiros is one of the most influential politicians in Brazil

The president of the Brazilian Senate has resigned before a vote that could have led to his expulsion after a long-running corruption scandal.

Renan Calheiros, an ally of President Luiz Inacio "Lula" da Silva, was accused of using third parties to buy two radio stations and a newspaper.

He announced his decision to resign in a speech to the Senate a short time before the vote was to take place.

He was regarded as one of the most influential figures in the Congress.

The long-running controversy has overshadowed political life here since May.

Fierce battle

The Senate president had fought a fierce battle to preserve his job and survived one vote which threatened his position in September this year.

I give up my mandate as Senate president without grief or resentment, holding my head high Renan Calheiros

The allegation this time focused on claims that he had used third parties as a front to illegally purchase two radio stations and a newspaper in his home state of Alagoas.

Announcing his resignation just ahead of the impeachment vote, Senator Calheiros again denied the claims against him and said he gave up his position without grief or resentment and holding his head up high.

However, critics noted that, by resigning, he also avoided being stripped of the right to run for office for eight years, which would have been the result had he lost the vote.

Such was the level of controversy surrounding the case that Senator Calheiros has been on leave of absence in recent months after some senators threatened to boycott sessions if he was presiding.

In the earlier stages of the scandal, he admitted using a lobbyist to pass on substantial child-support payments to his former mistress, but always claimed that it was his own money.

Senator Calheiros has now resigned but this damaging corruption scandal has done little to add to the already tarnished image of Brazilian political life.