Dilma Rousseff one step closer to political oblivion after Brazil sets stage for impeachment trial
Lop-side senate vote makes clear Dilma Rousseff is failing to make her case
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.After hours of tense and sometimes emotional debate, the Brazil Senate has now voted to move forward with the impeachment trial of suspended President Dilma Rousseff.
The vote in the upper house of the national Congress in Brasilia cast a bright and unwelcome spotlight on the country’s political turmoil at the very time that it is trying to put on its best face for the Summer Olympics under way in Rio de Janeiro.
By agreeing formally to indict Ms Rousseff, the Senate has opened the door to what is certain to be a wrenching trial of the one-time leftist guerrilla leader and head of the socialist-leaning Workers Party that will open in the same chamber the week after the closing ceremonies.
The lopsided 59-21 vote to indict Ms Rousseff was a stark reflection of her failure to persuade members of the Senate to see her side in a case that technically centres on allegations that she massaged the country’s fiscal books as she prepared for re-election three years ago.
There are now very few observers in Brazil who believe she can prevail at trial. If she is found guilty she will be permanently removed from office and the tenure of the man who replaced her, Michel Temer, will be confirmed. His term would end in 2018.
The margin in favour of indictment after a debate that lasted some 15 hours was especially discouraging for Ms Rousseff and her allies. For her to be convicted at trial at least 54 senators will need to be on side. That tally now seems entirely attainable by her political foes.
“This is not an easy situation,” Jose Eduardo Cardozo, who was attorney general under Ms Rousseff and is leading her defense, told Brazilian news portal G1 after the vote. He appeared to pin any dwindling hopes on a big enough number of senators balking when the moment comes actually to oust her for good. “The final vote isn't tethered to today's result,“ he said.
The more conservative Mr Temer, who was Ms Rousseff’s vice president, has been in charge of Brazil since her original suspension in May. Since then, he has been widely criticized for appointing an all-male, all-white cabinet. Three of his ministers have since been forced to resign for apparent links to a sprawling corruption probe that continues to shake the country.
Mr Temer, who has promised economic reforms designed to lift the economy out of its worst recession in decades but which also risk reversing many of the social policies introduced by the Workers’ Party, is 75 years old and said he will not run in the 2018 elections.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments