Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member Latest Breaking News General Discussion The DU Lounge All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search

Eugene

(61,823 posts)
Thu May 12, 2016, 10:01 AM May 2016

Dilma Rousseff suspended from office as senate votes to impeach Brazilian president

Source: The Guardian

Dilma Rousseff suspended from office as senate votes to impeach Brazilian president

Brazil’s first female president stripped of duties in country’s first
impeachment in 24 years


Jonathan Watts in Brasilia
Thursday 12 May 2016 10.38 BST

Less than halfway through her elected mandate, Dilma Rousseff was stripped of her presidential duties for up to six months on Thursday after the Senate voted to begin an impeachment trial.

After a marathon 20-hour debate that one politician described as the “saddest day for Brazil’s young democracy”, senators voted 55 to 22 to suspend the Workers’ party leader, putting economic problems, political paralysis and alleged fiscal irregularities ahead of the 54 million votes that put her in office.

Rousseff, Brazil’s first female president, will have to step aside while she is tried in the upper house for allegedly manipulating government accounts ahead of the previous election. Her judges will be senators, many of whom are accused of more serious crimes.

A final decision, which is likely in September or October, will require a two-thirds majority. Ominously for the president, this margin was exceeded in Thursday’s vote.

[font size=1]-snip-[/font]


Read more: http://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/may/12/dilma-rousseff-brazil-president-impeached-senate-vote
Latest Discussions»Region Forums»Latin America»Dilma Rousseff suspended ...