Senate debates impeachment trial for Rousseff

Brazil’s Senate has begun to debate whether President Dilma Rousseff should face a full impeachment trial. If a simple majority votes in favour, as is expected, Ms Rousseff will be automatically suspended from office. Ahead of the vote, Ms Rousseff asked the Supreme Court to block proceedings against her, citing irregularities. The president is accused […]

Brazil’s Senate has begun to debate whether President Dilma Rousseff should face a full impeachment trial.
If a simple majority votes in favour, as is expected, Ms Rousseff will be automatically suspended from office.
Ahead of the vote, Ms Rousseff asked the Supreme Court to block proceedings against her, citing irregularities.
The president is accused of illegally manipulating finances to hide a growing public deficit ahead of her re-election in 2014, which she denies.
The move to impeach President Rousseff has divided Brazil. On Tuesday, her supporters set up burning barricades and blocked roads, causing widespread disruption across all Brazilian states.