Brasilia, May 19 (RHC)-- Brazilian President Michel Temer has refused to resign despite being implicated in corruption allegations. In an address to the nation on Thursday afternoon, Temer said: "I will not resign, I repeat, I will not resign."
Local newspapers reported that a leading meatpacking company chairman had recorded his conversation with Temer and turned the recordings over to the Supreme Court. In the recordings, Temer reportedly endorsed the bribing of former Chamber of Deputies speaker Eduardo Cunha in exchange for Cunha's silence. Despite these revelations, Temer stated on Thursday that he did not know the contents of the recording.
Edson Fachin, the Supreme Court Justice in charge of the Petrobras corruption investigation, ordered a probe into Temer.
After the news broke out, opponents immediately called for Temer's resignation or impeachment. Meanwhile, thousands of Brazilians turned out in Sao Paulo to demand the president's resignation, shouting "Fora Temer" (Temer Out).
By Thursday afternoon, four different impeachment cases had been filed, three in the Chamber of Deputies and one in the Senate.