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Dilma Rousseff impeachment: votes mount against Brazilian president – live Dilma Rousseff impeachment: votes mount against Brazilian president – live
(35 minutes later)
4.53am BST
04:53
Socialist party senator Lídice da Mata has been speaking. She says “all presidents and dozens of governors” have committed the acts for which Rousseff is now condemned.
She adds that Temer’s move to assemble his new government before the impeachment process was even completed was a move that would make even House of Cards protagonist Frank Underwood blush.
“atitude que faria corar Frank Underwood da série House Off Cards em que vice dos EUA conspira p/derrubar presidente eleito” #EquipeLídice
4.42am BST
04:42
We have now reached 34 senators announcing their intention to vote for impeachment, 10 against, and one who made a speech but didn’t show his hand.
4.27am BST
04:27
Cardoso: 'clear case of impeachment'
Fernando Henrique Cardoso, who was president of Brazil from 1995 to 2003, has been speaking on CNN. He thinks the senate vote will go against Rousseff:
Probably the decision will be to continue to proceed with the impeachment process.
Having previously opposed the move, Cardoso says he recently decided to back impeachment:
I was reluctant at the beginning because i know how hard is the process of impeachment … Now is different. Brazil is a sound democracy [and] the constitution is very clear.
Quizzed on why Rousseff is being pursued for flouting financial rules broken by former leaders, including Cardoso himself, he adds:
It’s quite different to what I did and President Lula … it’s quite a clear case of impeachment … It’s obvious that this is against the constitution.
On what happens next for Brazil, Cardoso says:
There is an enormous amount of corruption, not only within government but sustained by people within government … People don’t trust any more the political system, political life.
Since President Rousseff was not able to regain confidence … why was she proceeding the way she was? She was increasing the lack of confidence.
To me this is a more profound crisis than just the case of President Rousseff.
Updated
at 4.29am BST
4.11am BST4.11am BST
04:1104:11
Senate leader enjoys a jokeSenate leader enjoys a joke
Ex-president Collor makes his speechEx-president Collor makes his speech
Outside the SenateOutside the Senate
3.56am BST3.56am BST
03:5603:56
So far, 41 of the 71 senators who have indicated they will speak in the debate (of the 81 senators in total) have said their piece.So far, 41 of the 71 senators who have indicated they will speak in the debate (of the 81 senators in total) have said their piece.
Of these 41:Of these 41:
The vote itself is not due to take place until around 4am local time.The vote itself is not due to take place until around 4am local time.
3.43am BST3.43am BST
03:4303:43
What happens next?What happens next?
Dilma Rousseff has been preparing for defeat by planning her exit from the presidential palace, Reuters reports:Dilma Rousseff has been preparing for defeat by planning her exit from the presidential palace, Reuters reports:
Aides said she will dismiss her ministers on Thursday morning and tell them not to help a transition to a Temer government because she considers her impeachment illegal.Aides said she will dismiss her ministers on Thursday morning and tell them not to help a transition to a Temer government because she considers her impeachment illegal.
With a change of government imminent, Michel Temer plans to swear in new ministers on Thursday afternoon, Senator Romero Jucá, head of his Brazilian Democratic Movement party (PMDB), told reporters.With a change of government imminent, Michel Temer plans to swear in new ministers on Thursday afternoon, Senator Romero Jucá, head of his Brazilian Democratic Movement party (PMDB), told reporters.
The president’s plan to dismiss all her cabinet if and when the Senate suspends her will force Temer to hit the ground running, since he was counting on a gradual transition to a new cabinet.The president’s plan to dismiss all her cabinet if and when the Senate suspends her will force Temer to hit the ground running, since he was counting on a gradual transition to a new cabinet.
Two Rousseff aides said, however, that the dismissal of her cabinet would exclude central bank governor Alexandre Tombini, and the current sports minister, who is scrambling to prepare for the Rio 2016 games.Two Rousseff aides said, however, that the dismissal of her cabinet would exclude central bank governor Alexandre Tombini, and the current sports minister, who is scrambling to prepare for the Rio 2016 games.
Leaning toward a liberal economic policy, Temer has picked former central bank chief Henrique Meirelles to be finance minister and Itau Unibanco’s chief economist Ilan Goldfajn as head of the central bank.Leaning toward a liberal economic policy, Temer has picked former central bank chief Henrique Meirelles to be finance minister and Itau Unibanco’s chief economist Ilan Goldfajn as head of the central bank.
3.29am BST3.29am BST
03:2903:29
An updated tally: so far 29 senators have said they will vote in favour of impeachment.An updated tally: so far 29 senators have said they will vote in favour of impeachment.
Nine have said they will vote against.Nine have said they will vote against.
With your customary reminder: a simple majority is enough to see Rousseff suspended. On a full complement of 81 senators, with all members present, that’s 41 votes needed to impeach.With your customary reminder: a simple majority is enough to see Rousseff suspended. On a full complement of 81 senators, with all members present, that’s 41 votes needed to impeach.
The vote itself will start after the 71 senators slated to speak have all had their turn. We are currently on number 40, Valdir Raupp.The vote itself will start after the 71 senators slated to speak have all had their turn. We are currently on number 40, Valdir Raupp.
3.14am BST3.14am BST
03:1403:14
Impeached ex-president Collor speaks in SenateImpeached ex-president Collor speaks in Senate
Former president Fernando Collor de Mello, himself impeached by the senate in 1992, speaks of a “country in ruins” at the “apex of a crisis”.Former president Fernando Collor de Mello, himself impeached by the senate in 1992, speaks of a “country in ruins” at the “apex of a crisis”.
Collor na tribuna. Momento histórico da política brasileira pic.twitter.com/LkfPVYFMteCollor na tribuna. Momento histórico da política brasileira pic.twitter.com/LkfPVYFMte
Talking of the impeachment process he faced, Collor says he was falsely accused. He appears to be talking about himself rather a lot. “There was no crime” in his case, he insists. Nonetheless he lost the presidency.Talking of the impeachment process he faced, Collor says he was falsely accused. He appears to be talking about himself rather a lot. “There was no crime” in his case, he insists. Nonetheless he lost the presidency.
People did not listen to his advice about the current crisis, he says. Amid coups, the presidency has enjoyed only “spasms of democracy”.People did not listen to his advice about the current crisis, he says. Amid coups, the presidency has enjoyed only “spasms of democracy”.
Collar is certainly opposed to his own impeachment of 24 years ago. He did not say explicitly how he would vote today.Collar is certainly opposed to his own impeachment of 24 years ago. He did not say explicitly how he would vote today.
UpdatedUpdated
at 3.24am BSTat 3.24am BST
2.56am BST2.56am BST
02:5602:56
At the moment, though, we are watching Senator Armando Monteiro make his speech. He was a minister in Rousseff’s government and opposes impeachment, which he says would “cause a serious institutional rupture” in Brazil.At the moment, though, we are watching Senator Armando Monteiro make his speech. He was a minister in Rousseff’s government and opposes impeachment, which he says would “cause a serious institutional rupture” in Brazil.
O senador @ArmandoPTB fala agora sobre o golpe:"Estaremos provocando a uma grave ruptura institucional do País"O senador @ArmandoPTB fala agora sobre o golpe:"Estaremos provocando a uma grave ruptura institucional do País"
2.52am BST2.52am BST
02:5202:52
Fernando Collor de Mello, the first democratically elected president of post-military Brazil, is due to speak next.Fernando Collor de Mello, the first democratically elected president of post-military Brazil, is due to speak next.
He was himself impeached in 1992 – though he resigned before being disqualified by a vote in the senate – and as a senator is one of those facing investigation as part of the Petrobras scandal for allegedly taking kickbacks.He was himself impeached in 1992 – though he resigned before being disqualified by a vote in the senate – and as a senator is one of those facing investigation as part of the Petrobras scandal for allegedly taking kickbacks.
Collor, ex-president who was impeached himself but bounced back as a senator, coming up next. #impeachment https://t.co/MC5DEV2OQYCollor, ex-president who was impeached himself but bounced back as a senator, coming up next. #impeachment https://t.co/MC5DEV2OQY
UpdatedUpdated
at 2.53am BSTat 2.53am BST
2.37am BST
02:37
Sousa says there is a “sexist, misogynist aspect” to the action against Rousseff:
E há o componente sexista, misógino, dessa conspiração. Disseram: “mulher não pode”, principalmente a Dilma.
Perhaps unsurprising, Regina Sousa (PT) only black woman in Brazil senate, 1st speaker in hrs (days?) to raise role of gender in impeachment
Updated
at 2.41am BST
2.30am BST
02:30
Next up is Senator Regina Sousa, of Rousseff’s own Workers’ party, who unsurprisingly says she will oppose what she describes as a “coup”:
A Senadora Regina Sousa será a próxima a discursar. Ela historiará e denunciará o golpe. Tweetaremos drops do discurso aqui.
Brazil has had worse crises without deposing its leaders, she says, adding that in this instance the opposition had decided it did not want Rousseff to govern:
A oposição decidiu que Dilma não governaria. Como não há um crime, culparam a crise. Ora, já vivemos crises piores sem depor o governante!
2.23am BST
02:23
Because those 15-minute speeches just aren’t long enough, some senators carry on even after the microphone is cut off:
Senador Hélio José (PMDB-DF) continua discursando depois de ter microfone cortado https://t.co/mFIW0zZ6ro pic.twitter.com/5fIadr82HE
2.17am BST
02:17
And with the 35th senator to speak – Cássio Cunha Lima – we’ve now reached the halfway point of the 70 whose names were on the list to make a speech today. Only 11 hours in.
2.12am BST
02:12
Senator Hélio José is speaking now. He is the 34th senator to make a speech. José is a member of Temer’s PMDB and says the debate in the senate today has been “high level” and “brilliant”.
1.59am BST
01:59
Associated Press sends this dispatch on unrest outside the senate tonight:
Protesters supporting Brazilian president Dilma Rousseff have clashed with police on the lawn outside the Senate as senators debated whether to impeach the leader.
It wasn’t clear what sparked the short but intense confrontations. Police used pepper spray to drive back protesters. Demonstrators largely from feminist groups threw firecrackers at police lines.
Emergency service workers took several people out of the area after they fell ill with the effects of the clouds of pepper spray.
Pepper spray earlier in front of Congress #impeachment pic.twitter.com/jwmSvxZJx4
On the Senate floor, Communist party senator Vanessa Grazziontin expressed worry about what she called spiralling levels of “unnecessary violence” directed at pro-Rousseff demonstrators.
A wall erected down the center of the lawn separated several thousand Rousseff supporters from a similar-sized group of pro-impeachment protesters. On the pro-impeachment side, a Carnival-esque spirit reigned, with demonstrators sipping beers while decked out in the yellow and green jersey of Brazil’s beloved national soccer team.
Both groups were much smaller than the crowds that turned out for the 17 April impeachment vote in the lower house of Congress.
1.54am BST
01:54
Get your snacks in: senate leader Renan Calheiros is saying the proceedings could continue until 5am local time (4am ET/9am BST/6pm AEST).
Do @gcamarotti: Renan prevê sessão que vota o impeachment até 5h da manhã de quinta https://t.co/rxb7FwVBRC pic.twitter.com/Gvd1VcfLLc
1.45am BST
01:45
Senator Vanessa Grazziotin is speaking now. She has previously called for the impeachment process to be suspended.
Tonight she tells senators that voting for Rousseff’s removal would be a fraud against the laws of democracy:
Vanessa Grazziotin: Caso este Plenário aprove o processo, estaremos diante de uma das maiores fraudes ao Estado Democrático de Direito
“What hypocrisy, what lies!” she tweets, with a reference to Lava Jato, or Operation Carwash, the investigation into the Petrobras scandal that has embroiled many of Brazil’s politicians – including a number of those calling for Rousseff to go:
Quanta hipocrisia, quanta mentira! O que eles querem é também acabar com a Lava Jato #equipevanessa
Grazziotin is greeted with hugs as she returns to her seat.
1.38am BST
01:38
Senate speeches latest: we now have 25 senators who have declared themselves in favour of impeachment, and five against.
A reminder: a simple majority is enough to see Rousseff suspended. On a full complement of 81 senators, with all members present, that’s 41 votes needed to impeach.
But so far during this 10-hour+ session, the chamber has not had full attendance at any point.
1.35am BST
01:35
Rousseff and Jaques Wagner, former defence minister, watch the crowds from inside the Planalto palace:
O ministro Jaques Wagner e a presidente Dilma foram flagrados na janela do Planalto https://t.co/PlpljN03UE pic.twitter.com/nmo42WSudN