12 May 2016•Update: 22 May 2016
By Senabri Silvestre
SANTO DOMINGO, Dom. Rep.
Brazil's Senate on Thursday suspended President Dilma Rousseff for 180 days after voting to approve a political trial against her for breaking budget rules.
The 55 – 22 vote followed a marathon session that lasted 21 hours in which opposition lawmakers surpassed their goal 54 votes, equivalent to two-thirds of the Senate -- to remove Rousseff from office at the end of the trial.
The government and the ruling Workers Party (PT) exhausted all avenues to prevent the process.
Early Wednesday, Rousseff’s lawyer asked the Supreme Court to protect the president’s rights and for a cancellation of the process. That motion was rejected.
During voting, PT members and allies defended the president and insisted that the action was a "coup” attempt. Demonstrated clashed briefly with police outside of the Senate building where the proceedings were being held.
Rousseff is accused of violating fiscal rules to hide a budget deficit ahead of the 2014 presidential elections. She insists the accusations do not warrant impeachment and said other Brazilian leaders have used similar creative accounting techniques without facing punishment.
Vice President Michel Temer has assumed interim leadership of the country and will be sworn in to office Thursday.
He could remain in the position until the next round of presidential elections in 2018, if the Upper House of Congress convicts Rousseff at trial.
Temer, is also under investigation for a corruption case.
Others officials in the line of succession are also facing corruption allegations.
The president of the Senate, Renan Calheiros, one of the protagonists of impeachment, has a dozen pending cases in the courts.
"Everyone will have to answer to history for their successes and mistakes in this process," he said before voting.
Earlier this month, the leader of the lower house, Eduardo Cunha, the main promoter of Rousseff´s impeachment, was removed from office and is facing corruption charges.
Following the vote, Rousseff dismissed her 27- member Cabinet, including former popular President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva – a political mentor to Rousseff -- who was recently appointed chief of staff in an effort to shore up support for the president.
The sports minister, who was in final preparations for the summer Olympic and Paralympic games that will be held beginning in August, was also dismissed.
Rousseff´s dismissal ends 13 years of PT rule, recognized for lifting 35 million Brazilians out of poverty in the later years.
Determined to fight to the end, Rousseff said her impeachment does not bring into question her mandate, but the "future" of the country.
“I am suffering the most of the brutalities that can be committed against a human being punished for a crime he did not commit”, she said from the National Palace following the vote.
She will be entitled to use of the presidential residence and other privileges, such as a salary and a security detail while away from office, said Calheiros.
