RIO DE JANEIRO — A supreme court judge suspended the leader of Brazil’s lower house of congress on Thursday, removing one of the nation’s most powerful politicians, who is reviled by many for numerous corruption allegations and actions to stall investigations against him.

Justice Teori Zavascki stripped Chamber of Deputies Speaker Eduardo Cunha of his duties ahead of a session of the full court, which would decide to confirm, overturn, or simply not take up Zavascki’s injunction. Unless the full court acts, Cunha’s suspension will remain in effect.

Cunha has repeatedly denied wrongdoing in all the cases against him.

Zavascki’s decision is based on a request made in December by chief prosecutor Rodrigo Janot.

Janot alleges that the speaker used his position to obstruct investigations against him involving corruption at state-run oil giant Petrobras and at the lower house’s ethics committee.

Zavascki also said in his ruling that because Cunha is under investigation, he is unfit to be in line for the presidency should President Dilma Rousseff be impeached. If the Senate accepts charges against the embattled leader next week, Vice President Michel Temer, an ally of Cunha’s, is set to take over. The speaker would be the next in line.

Cunha has been leading the effort to oust Rousseff over allegations she used budget tricks to hide deficits that have contributed to the worst recession in decades for Latin America’s largest economy.

An impeachment measure passed overwhelmingly last month in the Chamber of Deputies and is now before the Senate, and Cunha’s suspension has no direct impact on that vote.

Solicitor general Jose Eduardo Cardozo said Zavascki’s ruling will be the basis for a new appeal to the supreme court to annul the impeachment process. Cardozo accuses Cunha of abusing his office to seek revenge against adversaries.

Associated Press