This article is from the source 'guardian' 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 https://www.theguardian.com/world/live/2016/may/11/dilma-rousseff-impeachment-brazil-senate-vote

The article has changed 62 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 34 Version 35
Dilma Rousseff impeachment: majority of senate say they will vote to suspend president - live Dilma Rousseff impeachment: majority of senate say they will vote to suspend president - live
(35 minutes later)
9.17am BST
09:17
What we know so far
Claire Phipps
In a session of the Senate in Brasilia now around 20 hours long, senators have been making speeches ahead of a vote that will decide whether President Dilma Rousseff will be suspended from her role.
I’m now handing over the live blog to my colleague Nadia Khomami in London, who’ll continue to bring you updates through the official vote and beyond. Thanks for reading.
Updated
at 9.22am BST
9.03am BST
09:03
Jonathan Watts
Less than halfway through her elected mandate, Dilma Rousseff appears set to be stripped of her presidential duties for at least six months after a majority of senators said they would vote to impeach her and put her on trial.
After what one politician called the “saddest night for Brazil’s young democracy”, more than half of the 81 senators declared in a late-running impeachment debate that they would vote to suspend the Workers’ party leader, putting economic problems, political paralysis and alleged fiscal irregularities ahead of the 54 million votes that put her in office.
A formal vote is expected in the next few hours.
If all the senators vote as they have indicated, Rousseff, Brazil’s first female president, will have to step aside for at least six months while she is tried in the upper house for allegedly manipulating government accounts ahead of the previous election. Her judges will be senators, many of whom are accused of more serious crimes.
Read more here:
Related: Brazil president Dilma Rousseff set to be impeached in senate vote
8.51am BST8.51am BST
08:5108:51
Senator Cássio Cunha Lima tweets that he now expects the vote to take place at 7am local time (11am BST/8pm AEST/6am EDT) – more than 20 hours after the senate session started:Senator Cássio Cunha Lima tweets that he now expects the vote to take place at 7am local time (11am BST/8pm AEST/6am EDT) – more than 20 hours after the senate session started:
A sessão prossegue. Creio que a votação ocorrerá após às 7h. https://t.co/EgVzPlzGubA sessão prossegue. Creio que a votação ocorrerá após às 7h. https://t.co/EgVzPlzGub
8.47am BST8.47am BST
08:4708:47
Latest tally of how senators have declared they will vote:Latest tally of how senators have declared they will vote:
8.41am BST8.41am BST
08:4108:41
Senator Humberto Costa, of Rousseff’s Workers’ party, speaks now.Senator Humberto Costa, of Rousseff’s Workers’ party, speaks now.
He says the impeachment is a means for those defeated in the 2014 general election to get their hands on power, usurping the votes of regular Brazilians.He says the impeachment is a means for those defeated in the 2014 general election to get their hands on power, usurping the votes of regular Brazilians.
The president is not a criminal, he tells the senate, waving a photograph of a younger Rousseff.The president is not a criminal, he tells the senate, waving a photograph of a younger Rousseff.
UpdatedUpdated
at 8.41am BSTat 8.41am BST
8.23am BST8.23am BST
08:2308:23
Senator José Serra is up now. He’s likely to become a minister if/when Temer steps up to the presidency. Serra tells the senate that to continue with Rousseff as president would be a bigger tragedy than impeachment.Senator José Serra is up now. He’s likely to become a minister if/when Temer steps up to the presidency. Serra tells the senate that to continue with Rousseff as president would be a bigger tragedy than impeachment.
Impeachment isn’t an exceptional event, he says, but a constitutional solution:Impeachment isn’t an exceptional event, he says, but a constitutional solution:
Senador @joseserra_: "O impeachment não é uma medida de exceção. É uma solução constitucional."Senador @joseserra_: "O impeachment não é uma medida de exceção. É uma solução constitucional."
8.14am BST8.14am BST
08:1408:14
The 62nd senator to speak, Walter Pinheiro, is now at the lectern.The 62nd senator to speak, Walter Pinheiro, is now at the lectern.
Some 71 senators are due to make speeches ahead of the vote. At 15 minutes each – the limit – we would still be more than two hours away from a formal result.Some 71 senators are due to make speeches ahead of the vote. At 15 minutes each – the limit – we would still be more than two hours away from a formal result.
8.09am BST8.09am BST
08:0908:09
Why is this happening?Why is this happening?
For those joining our coverage 18 hours into the senate session (this is not a joke), here’s a helpful recap via Reuters:For those joining our coverage 18 hours into the senate session (this is not a joke), here’s a helpful recap via Reuters:
President Dilma Rousseff, who has been in office since 2011, has seen her popularity crushed by Brazil’s worst recession since the 1930s and a two-year probe into a vast kickback scheme at state-run oil company Petrobras.President Dilma Rousseff, who has been in office since 2011, has seen her popularity crushed by Brazil’s worst recession since the 1930s and a two-year probe into a vast kickback scheme at state-run oil company Petrobras.
Rousseff was chairwoman of Petrobras when much of the graft occurred, but she has not been accused of corruption.Rousseff was chairwoman of Petrobras when much of the graft occurred, but she has not been accused of corruption.
She stands charged with manipulating government accounts to disguise the size of Brazil’s fiscal deficit to allow her to boost public spending during her 2014 re-election campaign, a practice also employed by previous presidents.She stands charged with manipulating government accounts to disguise the size of Brazil’s fiscal deficit to allow her to boost public spending during her 2014 re-election campaign, a practice also employed by previous presidents.
The political crisis has deepened Brazil’s recession and comes at a time when Brazil hoped to be shining on the world stage as it prepares to host the Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro in August.The political crisis has deepened Brazil’s recession and comes at a time when Brazil hoped to be shining on the world stage as it prepares to host the Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro in August.
Opposition senators blamed Rousseff for running into the ground an economy now considered the worst performing among major developing nations, pursuing what they called populist policies that led to high inflation, recession and unemployment.Opposition senators blamed Rousseff for running into the ground an economy now considered the worst performing among major developing nations, pursuing what they called populist policies that led to high inflation, recession and unemployment.
Rousseff has denied committing any crime that warrants impeachment charges. She has called her impeachment a coup and vowed to fight the process until the last minute.Rousseff has denied committing any crime that warrants impeachment charges. She has called her impeachment a coup and vowed to fight the process until the last minute.
7.48am BST7.48am BST
07:4807:48
Jonathan WattsJonathan Watts
I’m resurfacing this eye-opening read from the Guardian’s Latin America correspondent, Jon Watts, which spells out the rocky road ahead:I’m resurfacing this eye-opening read from the Guardian’s Latin America correspondent, Jon Watts, which spells out the rocky road ahead:
If the suspension of Rousseff goes ahead – as it now looks set to – the presidential line of succession will have been decimated in the past week, with possibly more to come.If the suspension of Rousseff goes ahead – as it now looks set to – the presidential line of succession will have been decimated in the past week, with possibly more to come.
Normally, this is how it looks:Normally, this is how it looks:
But here’s the situation today:But here’s the situation today:
In conclusion: two of the five are likely to be suspended by Thursday, another two are under investigation, and the final potential successor is an unelected judge who is about to be replaced.In conclusion: two of the five are likely to be suspended by Thursday, another two are under investigation, and the final potential successor is an unelected judge who is about to be replaced.
I’d guess the odds on Lucia, who is not even in the frame right now, becoming president by the end of the year might be shorter than those last August for Leicester winning the Premiership.I’d guess the odds on Lucia, who is not even in the frame right now, becoming president by the end of the year might be shorter than those last August for Leicester winning the Premiership.
7.37am BST7.37am BST
07:3707:37
What happens next?What happens next?
Senators must still vote formally on the move to impeach Rousseff.Senators must still vote formally on the move to impeach Rousseff.
ThursdayThursday
Within 180 daysWithin 180 days
7.21am BST7.21am BST
07:2107:21
Majority of senators say they will vote for impeachmentMajority of senators say they will vote for impeachment
Senator Blairo Maggi is the 58th senator to speak and the 41st to declare he will vote in favour of impeachment.Senator Blairo Maggi is the 58th senator to speak and the 41st to declare he will vote in favour of impeachment.
Assuming senators vote later as they have said they will, Dilma Rousseff will be suspended from office for 180 days while congress decides if she will be permanently ousted.Assuming senators vote later as they have said they will, Dilma Rousseff will be suspended from office for 180 days while congress decides if she will be permanently ousted.
Bancada petista assiste a discurso de Blairo, o 41 pelo afastamento de Dilma. pic.twitter.com/ByTKUwCBazBancada petista assiste a discurso de Blairo, o 41 pelo afastamento de Dilma. pic.twitter.com/ByTKUwCBaz
7.14am BST7.14am BST
07:1407:14
Brazilian TV network Globo reports that three senators are not expected to vote today.Brazilian TV network Globo reports that three senators are not expected to vote today.
Two – Eduardo Braga and Jader Barbalho – are on sick leave, it says, and another, Pedro Chaves dos Santos, has not yet taken office.Two – Eduardo Braga and Jader Barbalho – are on sick leave, it says, and another, Pedro Chaves dos Santos, has not yet taken office.
This would leave 78 senators available to vote on the impeachment process – in which case, the 40 senators who have so far said they will vote in favour would be enough to secure Rousseff’s suspension.This would leave 78 senators available to vote on the impeachment process – in which case, the 40 senators who have so far said they will vote in favour would be enough to secure Rousseff’s suspension.
7.07am BST7.07am BST
07:0707:07
Forty senators have now declared that they intend to vote for the impeachment of Dilma Rousseff.Forty senators have now declared that they intend to vote for the impeachment of Dilma Rousseff.
In a full senate of 81, just one more vote would be needed to secure her suspension. Not all senators have attended the session so far.In a full senate of 81, just one more vote would be needed to secure her suspension. Not all senators have attended the session so far.