Senate indicts Rousseff, opens impeachment trial

The Brazilian Senate has voted to hold an impeachment trial of suspended President Dilma Rousseff, who is accused of breaking the budget law. The senate voted 59 to 21 in favour of going ahead with the trial against Ms Rousseff, which is likely to be held at the end of this month. The Senate suspended […]

The Brazilian Senate has voted to hold an impeachment trial of suspended President Dilma Rousseff, who is accused of breaking the budget law.
The senate voted 59 to 21 in favour of going ahead with the trial against Ms Rousseff, which is likely to be held at the end of this month.
The Senate suspended Ms Rousseff in May over alleged illegal accounting practices. She said they were common practice under previous administrations.
Following a marathon debate that ended early on Wednesday, the senate easily surpassed the required simple majority needed to decide on whether to try Ms Rousseff.
A two-thirds majority is needed in the final vote following the trial, which is due in the week after the Olympics closing ceremony.