Lawmakers from five parties have formally called for Mr Cavalcanti's expulsion from parliament.

BBC: NEWS | Americas | Brazil politician faces expulsion

The government, which had been committed to the expulsion of the hereditary peers from Parliament, had instead agreed to allow 91 of the 751 hereditaries to stay on pending more fundamental reforms of the House of Lords.

ECONOMIST: Hague??s history lesson

That may not be the same as an instant expulsion order, but it led to Ms Hirsi Ali's abrupt resignation from parliament.

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