Lower house moves to restrict lawmakers’ immunity from prosecution

The Chamber of Deputies has approved a constitutional amendment which would abolish lawmakers and judges’ lifelong immunity from prosecution. Under the proposed amendment, they would only be protected for the duration of their mandate, unless their peers vote to strip them of their immunity. The bill was approved by 148 deputies, well over the 120 votes necessary to amend the constitution. Its fate in the Senate is unclear since a similar proposal was rejected by the upper chamber only last year.