Brazil congressman stabbed after 90 pc wage hike

SAO PAULO, Brazil, Dec 19 (Reuters) A Brazilian congressman was stabbed in the back yesterday and his attacker told police she was frustrated by a 90 per cent salary hike legislators were given for the new year.

Lower House Deputy Antonio Carlos Magalhaes Neto was knifed near his office in Bahia state. He was rushed to a hospital in the city of Salvador and was in stable condition, an aide said.

Police identified the attacker as Rita de Cassia Sampaio de Souza, 45, who complained about the pay raise and Brazilian politicians, local media reported. Police also said Souza contradicted herself when explaining why she stabbed him.

The pay raise nearly doubled the monthly wage for legislators to 24,500 reais (11,395 dollars), putting them among the highest paid members of Congress in the world.

Brazil's minimum wage is 350 reais and poverty is widespread.

The government recently proposed raising the minimum wage by about 4 per cent, roughly the annual rate of inflation.

The national association of lawyers, the national association of Catholic bishops, public prosecutors and a handful of congressmen have denounced the hike, which faces a supreme court review.

Economists have said the raise could pressure the nation's budget deficit.

The administrative offices of the Senate and Lower House boosted the wage on Thursday against a backdrop of races for leadership posts in both houses and a week before summer recess.

Polls have shown that less than 1 per cent of Brazilians trust Congress, which is often the target of graft inquiries.

REUTERS PKS BST0438