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Rousseff impeachment: How did Brazil get here? Rousseff impeachment: How did Brazil get here?
(17 days later)
Brazil's lower house of Congress has voted to start impeachment proceedings against President Dilma Rousseff over accusations of manipulating government accounts. A committee in Brazil's Senate is discussing whether to launch an impeachment trial against President Dilma Rousseff over accusations she manipulated government accounts.
The process will now move to the upper house, the Senate, which is expected to suspend Ms Rousseff while it carries out a formal trial. The full Senate is expected to vote on the matter by mid-May.
Millions of Brazilians have called for the president to be impeached, but her supporters accuse the opposition of mounting a coup.Millions of Brazilians have called for the president to be impeached, but her supporters accuse the opposition of mounting a coup.
Here we take a closer look at the problems in Brazil and what has gone wrong since President Rousseff was re-elected for a second term in October 2014.Here we take a closer look at the problems in Brazil and what has gone wrong since President Rousseff was re-elected for a second term in October 2014.
President Rousseff under firePresident Rousseff under fire
President Dilma Rousseff's approval ratings have plummeted since she narrowly won the presidential election in October 2014. President Dilma Rousseff's approval ratings have plummeted since she narrowly won her second presidential election in October 2014.
According to a Datafolha poll (in Portuguese) released on 11 April, 63% of respondents across the country said her government was "bad or terrible", with only 13% saying it was "good or excellent".According to a Datafolha poll (in Portuguese) released on 11 April, 63% of respondents across the country said her government was "bad or terrible", with only 13% saying it was "good or excellent".
Experts say this reflects a deep recession and the corruption investigation at the state-controlled oil company Petrobras. The probe has implicated important figures from her Workers' Party, but also some of her opponents. Experts say this reflects voters' disillusionment with a deep recession and a corruption scandal involving the state-controlled oil company Petrobras.
The brief detention by police of her mentor and predecessor in office, Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, and his nomination as minister giving him some legal protection, have further hurt the president's image. The investigation into the corruption scandal, dubbed Operation Car Wash, has implicated important figures from Ms Rousseff Workers' Party, but also some of her opponents.
The impeachment motion has come amid allegations that she manipulated the government's accounts in 2014 when she was seeking re-election. She denies any wrongdoing and has accused her rivals of mounting a coup. Brazil's Attorney General has requested that the Supreme Court open an investigation into the alleged role of former President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva in the scandal.
The vote at the lower house was seen by observers as humiliating for Ms Rousseff, as it exceeded by a comfortable margin the mark needed to send the case to the Senate. Lula is not just Ms Rousseff's predecessor in the top job, but also her mentor and political ally and charges against him would reflect extremely negatively on Ms Rousseff.
Ms Rousseff was head of the board at Petrobras from 2003 to 2010, and many of her opponents say she must have known about the corruption scandal. Fight against impeachment
She has always denied any involvement and a parliamentary commission cleared her of wrongdoing in October 2015. The impeachment motion against President Rousseff is based on allegations that she manipulated the government's accounts in 2014 when she was seeking re-election.
She denies any wrongdoing and has accused her rivals of mounting a coup.
The vote in the lower house on 17 March in favour of the impeachment proceedings going ahead was a serious setback for Ms Rousseff.
Out of 513 members of the lower house, 367 voted in favour, exceeding by a comfortable margin the two-thirds majority needed to send the case to the Senate.
Possible successors also under accusationPossible successors also under accusation
If the Senate decides by a simple majority to put Ms Rousseff on trial, she will be immediately suspended for up to six months and Vice-President Michel Temer will take office.If the Senate decides by a simple majority to put Ms Rousseff on trial, she will be immediately suspended for up to six months and Vice-President Michel Temer will take office.
A vote is expected in early May, and reports have suggested that a majority of senators will stand against her. A vote is expected later this month, and reports have suggested that a majority of senators will vote against her.
But the three men in the line of succession have faced accusations of wrongdoings. They are all from the PMDB party, the largest party in the coalition, which abandoned Ms Rousseff in recent weeks to support the impeachment.But the three men in the line of succession have faced accusations of wrongdoings. They are all from the PMDB party, the largest party in the coalition, which abandoned Ms Rousseff in recent weeks to support the impeachment.
They all deny the allegations against them.They all deny the allegations against them.
Economy in the doldrumsEconomy in the doldrums
Brazil's economy is going through its worst recession in more than three decades following a drop in prices for Brazilian commodities such as oil, iron ore and soya.Brazil's economy is going through its worst recession in more than three decades following a drop in prices for Brazilian commodities such as oil, iron ore and soya.
In 2015, the economy shrank by 3.8%, its worst annual performance since 1981.In 2015, the economy shrank by 3.8%, its worst annual performance since 1981.
Inflation reached 10.7% at the end of last year, a 12-year-high.Inflation reached 10.7% at the end of last year, a 12-year-high.
Unemployment increased to 9% in 2015 and economists predict it could go into double figures in the coming months.Unemployment increased to 9% in 2015 and economists predict it could go into double figures in the coming months.
Brazil's currency, which lost a third of its value against the dollar in 2015, has regained some ground as investors seem to celebrate Ms Rousseff's recent defeats.Brazil's currency, which lost a third of its value against the dollar in 2015, has regained some ground as investors seem to celebrate Ms Rousseff's recent defeats.
They criticise her for interventionist policies and believe Mr Temer will lead a more market-friendly government, experts say.They criticise her for interventionist policies and believe Mr Temer will lead a more market-friendly government, experts say.
CorruptionCorruption
One of the main complaints by protesters who have taken to the streets recently was the high level of corruption that has tainted the highest echelons of business and politics in Brazil.One of the main complaints by protesters who have taken to the streets recently was the high level of corruption that has tainted the highest echelons of business and politics in Brazil.
Since the Workers' Party came to power in 2003, there has been a series of corruption scandals involving politicians from the governing party and also opposition parties. The two biggest are:Since the Workers' Party came to power in 2003, there has been a series of corruption scandals involving politicians from the governing party and also opposition parties. The two biggest are:
Who has been convicted?
The allegations of corruption are far reaching and include top politicians and businessmen. Twenty-five people were convicted in connection with the Mensalao scandal. They included:
Among the top names convicted in connection with Operation Car Wash are:
Lula in the spotlight
President Lula, who governed the country for eight years from 2003 and was one of Brazil's most popular politicians, was briefly detained on 4 March as part of Operation Car Wash.
He was questioned over allegations that he received "illicit benefits" from the Petrobras kickbacks scheme, such as having a construction firm involved in the scandal renovate a luxury beachfront apartment and a ranch allegedly owned by Lula's family. Prosecutors filed charges of money laundering against him.
President Rousseff has offered Lula the post of chief of staff, which shields him from the judge's investigation.
Under Brazilian law, cabinet members can only be tried by the Supreme Court, not by a federal judge.
The move is highly divisive among Brazilians. Some believe he is the victim of a political vendetta while others argue that his alleged misdeeds are catching up with him.
The fact that Lula has hinted that he would be willing to run again for the presidency in 2018 has further increased the scrutiny he is under.
A country dividedA country divided
The political crisis has deepened old political rivalries.The political crisis has deepened old political rivalries.
Supporters of the governing Workers' Party point to the achievements the Rousseff and Lula administrations brought about, such as lifting millions of people out of poverty and reducing inequality.Supporters of the governing Workers' Party point to the achievements the Rousseff and Lula administrations brought about, such as lifting millions of people out of poverty and reducing inequality.
They say that the allegations against them are a smear campaign designed to drive Ms Rousseff from office and prevent Lula from standing for the presidency in 2018.They say that the allegations against them are a smear campaign designed to drive Ms Rousseff from office and prevent Lula from standing for the presidency in 2018.
They say that the massive corruption investigations are a sign that under the Rousseff government such crimes are being punished rather than swept under the carpet as in previous administrations.They say that the massive corruption investigations are a sign that under the Rousseff government such crimes are being punished rather than swept under the carpet as in previous administrations.
The fact that high-ranking members of the Workers' Party have been convicted, they argue, is proof that there is no immunity.The fact that high-ranking members of the Workers' Party have been convicted, they argue, is proof that there is no immunity.
Opponents of President Rousseff accuse her of mismanaging the economy and say her government is deeply corrupt.Opponents of President Rousseff accuse her of mismanaging the economy and say her government is deeply corrupt.
They say they are fed up with the Workers' Party after its 13 years in power and demand a clean slate.They say they are fed up with the Workers' Party after its 13 years in power and demand a clean slate.