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RIO DE JANEIRO, Feb. 2 (Xinhua) -- Representative Rodrigo Maia was re-elected on Thursday as president of the Chamber of Deputies or lower house of parliament in Brazil, with 293 out of 504 votes.
Maia, from the Democrats party, was elected for a two-year term, defeating five other candidates. He was elected by a significant margin as he needed only half of the votes plus one, namely 253 votes, to win. The second most voted candidate, Jovair Arantes, was far behind with just 105 votes.
As President Michel Temer currently does not have a vice president, Maia is next in line for the presidency.
Maia's candidacy was questioned by political rivals, who contended that the lower house forbids re-election during the same term. Supporters argued that Maia was not previously elected for a regular term since he initially took the position temporarily after the resignation of former lower house President Eduardo Cunha.
Opposition parties had filed an injunction against Maia's candidacy at the Supreme Court, but the court authorized him to run.
On Wednesday, the Brazilian Senate chose its new president Eunicio Oliveira, who was also elected by a landslide victory with 61 out of 81 votes.
Oliveira, the second in line for the vice presidency after Maia, is affiliated to the Brazilian Democratic Movement Party (PMDB), the same party as President Michel Temer.
