Politics
Brazil's suspended President Dilma Rousseff, who is accused of violating budgetary laws to hide a growing deficit, delivered a spirited speech at an impeachment trial in the Senate on Monday. Rousseff dismissed all allegations, saying that the proceedings against her were a part of a conspiracy by her conservative rivals, who she defeated at the polls in 2014.
Rousseff’s fate will be decided on Wednesday when the senators vote on whether to reinstate her or remove her from the presidential office, writes the BBC. Out of 81 senators, 54 must vote in favor of Rousseff’s impeachment to permanently oust her from the presidency.
Rousseff would be the first Brazilian leader in more than 20 years to be dismissed from office if the Senate convicts her, reports Reuters. Rousseff, who came to power in 2012, has seen her popularity eroding in the second term, partly because of a massive corruption scandal at state-run oil company Petrobras and partly due to a steep recession that derailed Brazilian economy.
As a survey showed that 53 of the senators will be voting in favor of Rousseff’s impeachment, a few of her supporters took to streets but there were no massive demonstrations like the ones that rocked Brazil earlier this year.
