RIO DE JANEIRO, June 7 (Xinhua) -- A court trial that could topple Brazilian President Michel Temer entered the second day on Wednesday and will review the validity of witness testimonies, among others, according to Brazil's Superior Electoral Court (TSE) on Wednesday.
Judge Herman Benjamin, the rapporteur on the case, said he was open to allowing the use of testimonies obtained from some 77 former executives of Brazilian construction giant Odebrecht, which has admitted to systematically bribing government officials in exchange for public works contracts.
The trial will determine whether the winning presidential candidate of 2014, Dilma Rousseff, and her running mate, Michel Temer, abused political and economic power in the campaign.
Both Rousseff and Temer have denied the charges. Rousseff was impeached last year on unrelated accusations, and was succeeded by Temer, who was largely responsible for the process which resulted in Rousseff's deposition.
Benjamin said he will announce on Thursday whether he recommends that the electoral victory of the Rousseff-Temer ticket be upheld or annulled.
Trial sessions have been scheduled for all day through Thursday, Friday and Saturday, TSE Chairman Gilmar Mendes said.
The charges against Rousseff-Temer were brought by the Brazilian Social Democracy Party, whose presidential candidate lost to Rousseff in 2014 election.
