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Rousseff to face trial
August 4, 2016, 6:44 pm

Some analysts say that a Rousseff trial could split Brazilian society despite support for her impeachment in the Senate [Xinhua]

Some analysts say that a Rousseff trial could split Brazilian society despite support for her impeachment in the Senate [Xinhua]

A 21-member Senate impeachment committee voted in majority Thursday that suspended Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff must stand trial over allegations of abusing the state budget while in office.

They voted 15 to 4 in favor of the decision.

On May 11, the Brazilian Senate voted to temporarily suspend Rousseff from office for 180 days while the process of her impeachment moved forward.

Vice President Michel Temer replaced her during the proceedings.

The Senate voted 55-22 to impeach Rousseff on charges she doctored accounts to minimize the size of the budget deficit.

Rousseff was accused of using accounting tricks to hide large budget deficits. Her supporters have said these are flimsy charges and that the proceedings are, in effect, a “coup to remove a democratically elected president”.

The Senate will by next week vote on whether the charges against Rousseff will be upheld.

If she goes to trial, Rousseff will likely be handed down a verdict by late August.

The BRICS Post