The Brazilian Supreme Court has handed down a decision clearing the way for naturalized citizens of this country to hold office in local municipalities, provincial legislatures and the national parliament. The decision was handed down on a suit by Dr. Isaac Izecksohn. a Socialist elected to the Rio de Janeiro municipal council, whose election was invalidated by the election board on the grounds that he was not a native-born citizen.
The ruling by the election board, some ten months ago, was based on an ambiguously worded clause in the Brazilian constitution which the board interpreted as giving naturalized citizens the vote but forbidding them to run for office. The seven-member Supreme Court unanimously reversed this decision. The new decision will also uphold the election of several provincial legislators born in Italy and Portugal, who were ruled ineligible to hold office on the same grounds.
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