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Brazil's PMDB party quits ruling coalition | Brazil's PMDB party quits ruling coalition |
(about 1 hour later) | |
The largest party in Brazil's governing coalition, the PMDB, has voted to pull out. | The largest party in Brazil's governing coalition, the PMDB, has voted to pull out. |
The centrist party called for an "immediate exit" from President Dilma Rousseff's government. | The centrist party called for an "immediate exit" from President Dilma Rousseff's government. |
The move could hasten impeachment proceedings against President Rousseff, correspondents say. | The move could hasten impeachment proceedings against President Rousseff, correspondents say. |
Opposition lawmakers want to remove Ms Rousseff over claims that she manipulated accounts to hide a growing deficit. | Opposition lawmakers want to remove Ms Rousseff over claims that she manipulated accounts to hide a growing deficit. |
The decision comes a day after tourism minister Henrique Eduardo Alves from the PMDB - the Brazilian Democratic Movement Party - stood down. | The decision comes a day after tourism minister Henrique Eduardo Alves from the PMDB - the Brazilian Democratic Movement Party - stood down. |
'Goodbye' | 'Goodbye' |
At a leadership meeting on Tuesday, the PMDB decided that its six remaining ministers in President Rousseff's cabinet must resign or face ethics proceedings. | At a leadership meeting on Tuesday, the PMDB decided that its six remaining ministers in President Rousseff's cabinet must resign or face ethics proceedings. |
"The decision was taken by acclaim in a historical meeting marking the withdrawal from Dilma (Rousseff's) government," Senator Romero Juca tweeted [in Spanish]. | |
The BBC's Laura Bicker in Sao Paulo says President Rousseff could now be temporarily suspended from office by Congress as early as May. | The BBC's Laura Bicker in Sao Paulo says President Rousseff could now be temporarily suspended from office by Congress as early as May. |
She would be replaced by Vice President Michel Temer, leader of the PMDB, while the Senate decides if she should permanently leave her post, our correspondent adds. | She would be replaced by Vice President Michel Temer, leader of the PMDB, while the Senate decides if she should permanently leave her post, our correspondent adds. |
Speaking before the vote, Osmar Terra, a lawmaker from the PMDB, said he had little doubt which way it would go. | Speaking before the vote, Osmar Terra, a lawmaker from the PMDB, said he had little doubt which way it would go. |
Brazil tumbles like 'House of Cards' | Brazil tumbles like 'House of Cards' |
Rousseff faces perfect storm | Rousseff faces perfect storm |
Brazil's bigger threats | Brazil's bigger threats |
What's gone wrong? | What's gone wrong? |
"It will be a goodbye to the government," he said. | "It will be a goodbye to the government," he said. |
Analysts say a considerable number of lawmakers from the PMDB have felt uneasy about their alliance with the left-wing Workers' Party for a while. | Analysts say a considerable number of lawmakers from the PMDB have felt uneasy about their alliance with the left-wing Workers' Party for a while. |
Their unease has been compounded by calls for Ms Rousseff's impeachment and a widening corruption scandal involving senior members in the Workers' Party. | Their unease has been compounded by calls for Ms Rousseff's impeachment and a widening corruption scandal involving senior members in the Workers' Party. |
The president needs one third of the members of the lower house of Congress to vote against her impeachment for the proceedings to be shelved. | The president needs one third of the members of the lower house of Congress to vote against her impeachment for the proceedings to be shelved. |
Without the PMDB, she could lose as many as 69 votes at once in the 513-member Chamber of Deputies. | Without the PMDB, she could lose as many as 69 votes at once in the 513-member Chamber of Deputies. |
Another of Ms Rousseff's coalition partners, the centre-left Social Democratic Party (PSD) said it had given its lawmakers a free vote in any possible impeachment proceedings. | Another of Ms Rousseff's coalition partners, the centre-left Social Democratic Party (PSD) said it had given its lawmakers a free vote in any possible impeachment proceedings. |
Lula under pressure | Lula under pressure |
On Monday, Ms Rousseff's mentor and predecessor in office, Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, likened the moves to impeach her to a coup. | On Monday, Ms Rousseff's mentor and predecessor in office, Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, likened the moves to impeach her to a coup. |
But Lula himself is under pressure. | But Lula himself is under pressure. |
The Supreme Court suspended his appointment as Ms Rousseff's chief of staff earlier this month and is due to take a final decision on the matter next week. | The Supreme Court suspended his appointment as Ms Rousseff's chief of staff earlier this month and is due to take a final decision on the matter next week. |
Opponents of the government said the president had given Lula the post so he could escape investigation and possible proceedings over allegations of money laundering. | Opponents of the government said the president had given Lula the post so he could escape investigation and possible proceedings over allegations of money laundering. |
Under Brazilian law, cabinet members can only be investigated by the Supreme Court, not by lower courts. | Under Brazilian law, cabinet members can only be investigated by the Supreme Court, not by lower courts. |
There have been mass protests demanding the impeachment of President Rousseff in cities like Sao Paulo and Rio de Janeiro. | There have been mass protests demanding the impeachment of President Rousseff in cities like Sao Paulo and Rio de Janeiro. |
But there have also been rallies in support of the government by those who say the president is the victim of a campaign to drive the Workers' Party from government. | But there have also been rallies in support of the government by those who say the president is the victim of a campaign to drive the Workers' Party from government. |