This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-latin-america-36066810
The article has changed 18 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Version 1 | Version 2 |
---|---|
Brazil Rousseff: MPs set for knife-edge impeachment vote | Brazil Rousseff: MPs set for knife-edge impeachment vote |
(about 4 hours later) | |
Brazil's lower house of Congress is due to vote on whether to back impeachment against President Dilma Rousseff over charges of manipulating government accounts for political gains. | |
Security has been stepped up outside the building in Brasilia to prevent clashes between rival protesters. | Security has been stepped up outside the building in Brasilia to prevent clashes between rival protesters. |
Ms Rousseff has accused her political opponents of mounting a "coup". | |
She has been lobbying MPs amid indications there may be enough votes for the impeachment motion to carry. | She has been lobbying MPs amid indications there may be enough votes for the impeachment motion to carry. |
A two-thirds majority - 342 out of 513 votes - are needed to send the motion to the upper house, the Senate, where a simple majority would be enough to suspend Ms Rousseff from office for up to 180 days during an impeachment trial. | A two-thirds majority - 342 out of 513 votes - are needed to send the motion to the upper house, the Senate, where a simple majority would be enough to suspend Ms Rousseff from office for up to 180 days during an impeachment trial. |
The debate on impeachment began on Friday, and the voting is expected from 17:00GMT (1800BST). Deputies will vote one by one in a televised session which is expected to last several hours. | The debate on impeachment began on Friday, and the voting is expected from 17:00GMT (1800BST). Deputies will vote one by one in a televised session which is expected to last several hours. |
Read more on Brazil's political crisis: | Read more on Brazil's political crisis: |
On Saturday, the president wrote in the Folha de Sao Paulo, (in Portuguese): "They want to convict an innocent woman and save the corrupt," a reference to charges several politicians face. | On Saturday, the president wrote in the Folha de Sao Paulo, (in Portuguese): "They want to convict an innocent woman and save the corrupt," a reference to charges several politicians face. |
She accused her opponents of "fraud and lies in an attempt to dismiss a legitimately elected government and replace it with a government without legitimacy". | She accused her opponents of "fraud and lies in an attempt to dismiss a legitimately elected government and replace it with a government without legitimacy". |
Denying she had committed any crime, she said: "This is a coup against the republic, against democracy and above all against the votes of all Brazilians who participated in the electoral process." | Denying she had committed any crime, she said: "This is a coup against the republic, against democracy and above all against the votes of all Brazilians who participated in the electoral process." |
She later cancelled a planned appearance at a rally to contact MPs and political leaders. | She later cancelled a planned appearance at a rally to contact MPs and political leaders. |
A number of coalition parties, including the biggest, the PMDB, have already abandoned her to support the impeachment. | A number of coalition parties, including the biggest, the PMDB, have already abandoned her to support the impeachment. |
Ms Rousseff, 68, has accused her Vice-President, Michel Temer, of being one of the ringleaders of the "coup" attempt against her. | Ms Rousseff, 68, has accused her Vice-President, Michel Temer, of being one of the ringleaders of the "coup" attempt against her. |
She said a widely distributed audio message of Mr Temer appearing to accept replacing her as president was evidence of the conspiracy. However, she did not identify him by name. | She said a widely distributed audio message of Mr Temer appearing to accept replacing her as president was evidence of the conspiracy. However, she did not identify him by name. |
Ms Rousseff has also indicated lower house speaker Eduardo Cunha is among those trying to oust her. He is himself facing money-laundering and other charges. | Ms Rousseff has also indicated lower house speaker Eduardo Cunha is among those trying to oust her. He is himself facing money-laundering and other charges. |
What happens next? | What happens next? |
Lower house vote: An impeachment vote is due in the lower house on Sunday. A two-thirds majority is required for it to go forward to the Senate. | Lower house vote: An impeachment vote is due in the lower house on Sunday. A two-thirds majority is required for it to go forward to the Senate. |
Senate vote on trial: If Ms Rousseff case is sent to the Senate, a simple majority is enough to suspend her for up to 180 days while she is put on trial. Vice-President Michel Temer would step in during this period. | Senate vote on trial: If Ms Rousseff case is sent to the Senate, a simple majority is enough to suspend her for up to 180 days while she is put on trial. Vice-President Michel Temer would step in during this period. |
Impeachment vote: For Ms Rousseff to be removed from office permanently, two-thirds of the Senate would have to vote in favour. Mr Temer would remain president for an interim period should this happen. | Impeachment vote: For Ms Rousseff to be removed from office permanently, two-thirds of the Senate would have to vote in favour. Mr Temer would remain president for an interim period should this happen. |