BRASILIA, June 9 (Xinhua) -- A key Brazilian judge on Friday backed a ruling that could strip Brazilian President Michel Temer of his presidency.
Judge Herman Benjamin, the special rapporteur on the case being heard by the Supreme Electoral Court, voted to annul the outcome of the 2014 general elections that brought Dilma Rousseff and her running mate Temer to power, due to revelations of illegal campaign financing.
The remaining six judges of the top electoral court are set to vote later in the day in a trial that will determine whether Rousseff and 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 sufficient evidence exists to invalidate the electoral outcome, and presented emails, testimony, bank records and other proof linking the winning political parties to corporate interests that made secret campaign contributions.
Should the court's decision go against Temer, the president could still appeal the ruling.
The trial, the first of its kind in Brazil, entered its final phase and is likely to conclude later in the day.
