Tip:
Highlight text to annotate it
X
Brazil's Senate has voted to put President Dilma Rousseff on trial over a corruption
scandal... and as the country battles a deep recession many blame on the president.
Bruce Harrision updates us on how this historic decision played out.
Senators voted 55 to 22 in favor of the trial... after 20 hours of debate that lasted overnight.
The vote also suspends Rousseff from the presidency for the duration of the impeachment trial.
As soon as Rousseff was suspended, Vice President Michel Temer assumed the presidency.
Now, the Senate has 180 days to conduct the trial... meaning Rousseff could be suspened
during the Summer Olympics in August. The president is accused of breaking budget
rules ahead of her 2014 re-election.
"...throughout the course of the next few months we can calmly debate, based on the
facts, whether impeachable crimes were committed or not."
A two-thirds majority is needed in the Senate to impeach Rousseff, but the lopsided vote
to try her suggests the opposition already has the necessary support.
Many Brazilians claiming Rousseff sunk the economy celebrated in the streets.
"It is so exciting, all our effort was worth it. There was a lot of suffering, I suffered
so much I nearly died, but I am here fighting for my virtue and for my children. I am so
happy."
According to the BBC, Senator in support of Rousseff described the impeachment proceedings
as a takeover of power disguised as impeacment... and born of hatred and revenge.
Bruce Harrison, Arirang News.