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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Brazil committee head recommends Rousseff's impeachment | Brazil committee head recommends Rousseff's impeachment |
| (about 14 hours later) | |
| The head of a congressional committee in Brazil set up to analyse whether President Dilma Rousseff should face an impeachment vote has given his recommendation. | The head of a congressional committee in Brazil set up to analyse whether President Dilma Rousseff should face an impeachment vote has given his recommendation. |
| Lawmaker Jovair Arantes said he thought there were enough grounds for impeachment proceedings to continue. | Lawmaker Jovair Arantes said he thought there were enough grounds for impeachment proceedings to continue. |
| President Rousseff is alleged to have manipulated government accounts to hide a growing deficit, which she denies. | President Rousseff is alleged to have manipulated government accounts to hide a growing deficit, which she denies. |
| Mr Arantes' decision is non-binding but could sway undecided lawmakers. | Mr Arantes' decision is non-binding but could sway undecided lawmakers. |
| The 65-member committee which Mr Arantes heads will vote on Monday on whether it thinks the impeachment proceedings should go ahead. | The 65-member committee which Mr Arantes heads will vote on Monday on whether it thinks the impeachment proceedings should go ahead. |
| Regardless of the outcome, the full lower house of Congress will convene on 17 April to vote on the matter. | Regardless of the outcome, the full lower house of Congress will convene on 17 April to vote on the matter. |
| That latter vote will be key in deciding whether Ms Rousseff stays in power. | That latter vote will be key in deciding whether Ms Rousseff stays in power. |
| But she was boosted on Wednesday when the centrist Progressive Party said it would remain in her governing coalition until the vote. | But she was boosted on Wednesday when the centrist Progressive Party said it would remain in her governing coalition until the vote. |
| "It is clear a majority [of the PP] does not want to break with Rousseff," party leader Senator Ciro Nogueira said. "They will tend to vote for the president over impeachment." | "It is clear a majority [of the PP] does not want to break with Rousseff," party leader Senator Ciro Nogueira said. "They will tend to vote for the president over impeachment." |
| If two-thirds of the lower house vote for her impeachment, Ms Rousseff will be suspended for 180 days, while the matter goes to the upper house, the Senate. | If two-thirds of the lower house vote for her impeachment, Ms Rousseff will be suspended for 180 days, while the matter goes to the upper house, the Senate. |
| During this time, Vice-President Michel Temer would take over as acting president. | During this time, Vice-President Michel Temer would take over as acting president. |
| However, Mr Temer could also face impeachment proceedings of his own. | However, Mr Temer could also face impeachment proceedings of his own. |
| On Tuesday, a Supreme Court justice said a congressional committee should be set up to investigate if there were grounds to impeach Mr Temer. | On Tuesday, a Supreme Court justice said a congressional committee should be set up to investigate if there were grounds to impeach Mr Temer. |
| The allegations against him also relate to the manipulation of government accounts, which he has denied. | The allegations against him also relate to the manipulation of government accounts, which he has denied. |
| The two men next in line to stand in for Ms Rousseff should she be suspended are also facing legal trouble over allegations of corruption. | The two men next in line to stand in for Ms Rousseff should she be suspended are also facing legal trouble over allegations of corruption. |
| The speaker of the lower house of Congress, Eduardo Cunha, and Senate speaker Renan Calheiros, are under investigation in connection with a massive corruption scandal at state-oil company Petrobras. | The speaker of the lower house of Congress, Eduardo Cunha, and Senate speaker Renan Calheiros, are under investigation in connection with a massive corruption scandal at state-oil company Petrobras. |
| They both deny any wrongdoing. | They both deny any wrongdoing. |
| Ms Rousseff has likened the moves to impeach her to a "coup attempt" and is lobbying hard to get the 172 votes needed to block her impeachment in the lower house. | Ms Rousseff has likened the moves to impeach her to a "coup attempt" and is lobbying hard to get the 172 votes needed to block her impeachment in the lower house. |
| She has also dismissed calls by an opposition senator for a snap election to be held in October to end the political impasse. | She has also dismissed calls by an opposition senator for a snap election to be held in October to end the political impasse. |