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Brazilian leader Dilma Rousseff calls impeachment a 'coup attempt' | Brazilian leader Dilma Rousseff calls impeachment a 'coup attempt' |
(about 17 hours later) | |
Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff has said impeachment proceedings launched against her in Congress amount to a coup attempt. | Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff has said impeachment proceedings launched against her in Congress amount to a coup attempt. |
In a speech to pro-government lawyers, Ms Rousseff said Brazilian democracy was under attack. | In a speech to pro-government lawyers, Ms Rousseff said Brazilian democracy was under attack. |
"I have committed no irregularity. I will never resign," she said. | "I have committed no irregularity. I will never resign," she said. |
Opposition lawmakers are seeking to remove her over allegations that she manipulated government accounts to hide a growing deficit. | Opposition lawmakers are seeking to remove her over allegations that she manipulated government accounts to hide a growing deficit. |
Ms Rousseff, a former political prisoner during Brazil's military government, began her second term in office 14 months ago. | Ms Rousseff, a former political prisoner during Brazil's military government, began her second term in office 14 months ago. |
But her popularity has plummeted amid corruption allegations around senior members of the governing Workers' Party. | |
The speaker of the lower house of Congress, Eduardo Cunha, agreed in December to open impeachment proceedings against her. | The speaker of the lower house of Congress, Eduardo Cunha, agreed in December to open impeachment proceedings against her. |
"There is just one name for that - a coup," said Ms Rousseff. | "There is just one name for that - a coup," said Ms Rousseff. |
"I want tolerance, dialogue and peace. And that will only be possible if democracy is preserved," she said. | "I want tolerance, dialogue and peace. And that will only be possible if democracy is preserved," she said. |
Brazilian democracy was restored in 1985, 21 years after the military coup that deposed the left-wing government of Joao Goulart. | Brazilian democracy was restored in 1985, 21 years after the military coup that deposed the left-wing government of Joao Goulart. |
The Workers' Party has been in power since Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva was sworn in for his first term in 2003. | The Workers' Party has been in power since Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva was sworn in for his first term in 2003. |
Government supporters say the opposition did not accept the results of the 2014 election, in which Ms Rousseff was re-elected for another four-year term, and are trying to remove her by undemocratic means. | Government supporters say the opposition did not accept the results of the 2014 election, in which Ms Rousseff was re-elected for another four-year term, and are trying to remove her by undemocratic means. |
Lula's legal battle | Lula's legal battle |
Last week, Ms Rousseff suffered another blow when a move to appoint Lula as her chief of staff was blocked by a federal judge. | Last week, Ms Rousseff suffered another blow when a move to appoint Lula as her chief of staff was blocked by a federal judge. |
The government appealed against the decision, but it was later confirmed by a Supreme Court judge. The court is expected to issue a final ruling by the end of the month. | The government appealed against the decision, but it was later confirmed by a Supreme Court judge. The court is expected to issue a final ruling by the end of the month. |
Ms Rousseff had been accused by opposition figures of appointing Lula to shield him from charges of money-laundering which he denies. | Ms Rousseff had been accused by opposition figures of appointing Lula to shield him from charges of money-laundering which he denies. |
The leftist former leader is being investigated for alleged involvement in major corruption at state-owned oil company Petrobras. | The leftist former leader is being investigated for alleged involvement in major corruption at state-owned oil company Petrobras. |
Under Brazilian law, cabinet members can be investigated only by the Supreme Court. | Under Brazilian law, cabinet members can be investigated only by the Supreme Court. |
During a pro-government demonstration on Saturday, Lula said he was joining the government to help the country and said Brazil, which is in its worst recession in decades, needed to resume growth. | During a pro-government demonstration on Saturday, Lula said he was joining the government to help the country and said Brazil, which is in its worst recession in decades, needed to resume growth. |
"There will not be a coup against Ms Rousseff," he told cheering supporters. | "There will not be a coup against Ms Rousseff," he told cheering supporters. |
"Democracy is the only way to allow people to participate in government's decisions," added the former leader. | "Democracy is the only way to allow people to participate in government's decisions," added the former leader. |
Lula says he will run for president again in 2018. | Lula says he will run for president again in 2018. |
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