Diplomatic crisis unfolds after Rousseff's impeachment
The impeachment of Brazil's former President Dilma Rousseff sent shockwaves across South America. The Left parties in Brazil have condemned the impeachment vote as a coup to overthrow the legitimate government in the country. Venezuela, Bolivia and Ecuador have withdrawn their ambassadors from Brazil in protest. Brazil's foreign ministry countered saying countries like Venezuela have no right to comment on democracy.
About Dilma Rousseff
Dilma Rousseff was the first woman to become the President of Brazil in 2011. The former guerrilla fighter, who was jailed and tortured during the 1970s initially came to prominence as the protege of former Brazilian President Lula. The "Iron Lady" won her re-election in a tight runoff in 2014. Her popularity slumped amid a corruption scandal involving the state-owned oil giant Petrobras.
Rousseff was Petrobras' Chairperson when the corruption occured
Brazilian Judge Sergio Moro launched an investigation into the Petrobras corruption scandal called 'Car Wash' in Mar'14. Firms and businesses allegedly bribed officials to secure contracts with the state-owned company. In Dec'15, protests erupted in Brazil demanding the Congress to impeach President Dilma Rousseff over corruption and mismanagement of the economy. Rousseff was Petrobras' Chairperson during 2003-10 when the alleged corruption scandal occurred.
Brazilian Senate votes in favor of Rousseff's impeachment
In Apr'16, a 65-membered Congressional committee voted to recommend the impeachment of President Dilma Rousseff. In May'16, Brazil's Senate voted 55-22 for the impeachment after a 22-hour lengthy discussion; Rousseff was suspended. Vice-President Michel Temer of Centre-right PMBD party took over as the interim President. Rousseff said she was being ousted for allowing an investigation into Petrobras corruption scandal involving several high-profile politicians.
Rousseff strikes back at her accusers during trial
On 29 Aug'16, during her trial, Rousseff was questioned by the senators in a 14-hour long session; she hit back at the accusers in a 30-minute address. She repeatedly stated she had not committed any crime of which she has been "unjustly and arbitrarily accused." Speaking about the impeachment effort, she said she couldn't help but taste the "bitterness of injustice."
Brazil Senate impeachment vote ousts President Rousseff from office
The Brazilian Senate voted to impeach the embattled, first woman President Dilma Rousseff from office over alleged manipulation of the budget. The Senate's vote put an end to the 13-year-rule of Rousseff's left-wing Workers' Party. She was stripped of her presidency by a 61-20 vote. Vice-President Michel Temer took over as the new President for the remainder of Rousseff's term till 1 January 2019.
Dilma Rousseff's statement
"Today, the Senate made a decision that goes into the history of great injustices. The Senators who voted for the impeachment chose to tear apart the Federal Constitution. They decided to interrupt the mandate of a President who has not committed a crime of responsibility."
Rousseff denies all wrongdoing
The 68-year-old former Brazilian President Rousseff was accused of breaking the country's fiscal laws and also mishandling the budget. According to her opponents, her actions aggravated recession in the largest nation in Latin America leading to 10% inflation and increased job layoffs. However, Rousseff had denied the charges and called it an "attempted coup d'état" in an impeachment trial in the Senate earlier.
A second vote to ban Rousseff from public office
Apart from the impeachment vote, a second vote to ban Rousseff from public office for an eight-year-period was conducted in the Brazilian Senate. Rousseff managed to secure a minor victory that stopped the vote from being passed. In the vote, 42 Senators voted against banning Rousseff while 36 voted for it; the vote fell short of 12 more votes (total required 54 votes).
Diplomatic crisis unfolds after Rousseff's impeachment
The impeachment of Brazil's former President Dilma Rousseff sent shockwaves across South America. The Left parties in Brazil have condemned the impeachment vote as a coup to overthrow the legitimate government in the country. Venezuela, Bolivia and Ecuador have withdrawn their ambassadors from Brazil in protest. Brazil's foreign ministry countered saying countries like Venezuela have no right to comment on democracy.
