Brazil's Senate head says Rio military intervention blocks pension vote

President of the Federal Senate Eunicio Oliveira reviews troops during an opening session of the Year of the Legislative, in Brasilia, Brazil, February 5, 2018. REUTERS/Ueslei Marcelino

BRASILIA (Reuters) - Eunicio Oliveira, the head of Brazil's Senate, said on Monday that the federal government's military intervention in Rio de Janeiro would, by the rules of the country's constitution, block any vote on pension reform or any other measure requiring a constitutional amendment.

President Michel Temer last week ordered Brazil's army to take command of all security forces in violent Rio de Janeiro state. Temer argued that he could "lift" that decree for a few hours to allow congress to vote on pension reform. Oliveira disagreed, saying no vote would go forward. Temer is counting on pension reform to bring the deficit under control.