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Brazil's Dilma Rousseff to face impeachment trial Brazil's Dilma Rousseff to face impeachment trial
(about 1 hour later)
Brazil's President Dilma Rousseff is to face trial after the Senate voted to impeach and suspend her.Brazil's President Dilma Rousseff is to face trial after the Senate voted to impeach and suspend her.
Ms Rousseff is accused of illegally manipulating finances to hide a growing public deficit ahead of her re-election in 2014, which she denies.Ms Rousseff is accused of illegally manipulating finances to hide a growing public deficit ahead of her re-election in 2014, which she denies.
Senators voted to suspend her by 55 votes to 22 after an all-night session that lasted more than 20 hours.Senators voted to suspend her by 55 votes to 22 after an all-night session that lasted more than 20 hours.
Vice-President Michel Temer will now assume the presidency while Ms Rousseff's trial takes place.Vice-President Michel Temer will now assume the presidency while Ms Rousseff's trial takes place.
The trial may last up to 180 days, which would mean Ms Rousseff would be suspended during the Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, which start on 5 August.The trial may last up to 180 days, which would mean Ms Rousseff would be suspended during the Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, which start on 5 August.
Ms Rousseff made a last-ditch appeal to the Supreme Court to stop proceedings, but the move was rejected. Her suspension brings an end to 13 years of the rule of her Workers' Party.Ms Rousseff made a last-ditch appeal to the Supreme Court to stop proceedings, but the move was rejected. Her suspension brings an end to 13 years of the rule of her Workers' Party.
Ms Rousseff, who was first sworn into office in January 2011 and started a second term in 2015, has called the steps to remove her a "coup". Ms Rousseff, 68, who was first sworn into office in January 2011 and started a second term in 2015, has called the steps to remove her a "coup".
In a speech at the end of the all-night Senate session, attorney general Jose Eduardo Cardozo said that the impeachment request did not have legal basis and that the opposition wanted to remove a democratically-elected president.In a speech at the end of the all-night Senate session, attorney general Jose Eduardo Cardozo said that the impeachment request did not have legal basis and that the opposition wanted to remove a democratically-elected president.
He said senators were condemning an "innocent woman" and that impeachment was a "historic injustice".He said senators were condemning an "innocent woman" and that impeachment was a "historic injustice".
Who is stand-in President Michel Temer?Who is stand-in President Michel Temer?
Michel Temer became interim President as soon as Ms Rousseff was suspended.Michel Temer became interim President as soon as Ms Rousseff was suspended.
Read more on Michel Temer hereRead more on Michel Temer here
Why did senators seek impeachment?Why did senators seek impeachment?
All 71 senators present for the vote made their case for or against impeachment in 15-minute slots. They finished at 05:45 local time (08:45GMT), more than 20 hours after the session opened.All 71 senators present for the vote made their case for or against impeachment in 15-minute slots. They finished at 05:45 local time (08:45GMT), more than 20 hours after the session opened.
In the Senate, the arguments given for the trial were mainly economic. In the Senate, the arguments given for the trial were mainly economic; many blamed President Rousseff for the dire straits the country's economy is in.
Many blamed President Rousseff for the dire straits the country's economy is in.
Brazil is suffering from its worst recession in 10 years, unemployment reached 9% in 2015 and inflation is at a 12-year high.Brazil is suffering from its worst recession in 10 years, unemployment reached 9% in 2015 and inflation is at a 12-year high.
Senator Aecio Neves, who lost to Ms Rousseff in the 2014 presidential election, said: "Populist governments always act with fiscal irresponsibility and when they fail they appeal to the old 'us vs them' argument."
"The poorest and most vulnerable in society, who need the government support the most, always end up paying the bill," he added.
Mr Neves said he would vote for an impeachment trial.
Ataides Oliveira of the opposition PSDB party said that "today, we're going to retrieve the country from the hands of the PT (Ms Rousseff's Workers' Party) and give it back to the Brazilian people".
Former football player turned senator Romario said Brazil was in "a very serious crisis" before revealing that "after much thought" he had decided to back her impeachment trial.
What did Dilma Rousseff's backers say?What did Dilma Rousseff's backers say?
Those arguing against the impeachment trial repeated her comments that it was tantamount to a coup d'etat. Those arguing against impeaching Ms Rousseff, Brazil's first female president, repeated her comments that it was tantamount to a coup d'etat.
Senator Telmario Mota said that "today we are seeing an attempted takeover of power which calls itself impeachment". Analysis - Jefferson Puff, BBC World Service correspondent, Rio de Janeiro
He added that the impeachment proceedings were "born of revenge, hatred and revenge". Brazilians are extremely divided and the polarisation between groups that are in favour and against the impeachment can be seen in social media and latest street protests.
Senator Fatima Bezerra from the Workers' Party called the proceedings "a farce". "Those who back this coup d'etat won't ever be forgiven," she warned. Last night, there were protests all over the country, and although much smaller than expected, they did offer scenes of confrontation between opposite groups and police resorted to tear gas and pepper spray to contain fights.
What happens now? It is expected that Ms Rousseff will leave the Presidential Palace this morning and, after a short speech, a video message from her to the nation will be posted online. The video should, in strong terms, frame the impeachment process as a coup d'etat and accuse Mr Temer of taking over office without being elected by a legitimate popular vote.
Ms Rousseff, 68, is expected to give a speech later on Thursday. The 180 days allocated for the trial to take place expire on 8 November. Analysts and the Brazilian press have questioned how this will resonate among the public. On one hand, social movements such as national unions and landless workers' groups have said they will "paralyse" the country. But, on the other, it's important to remember their leaders were in touch with Mr Temer weeks ago trying to negotiate.
Many of these groups will gather to support Ms Rousseff as she leaves the Presidential Palace, but it is uncertain how the streets will react throughout the day and how much popularity the new government will enjoy once it takes office later on today.
What happens next?
The 180 days allocated for the trial to take place expire on 8 November.
Before Thursday's vote, the Lower house of Congress had already pushed for impeachment. Now that process has started, there are two possible outcomes for Mr Rousseff.Before Thursday's vote, the Lower house of Congress had already pushed for impeachment. Now that process has started, there are two possible outcomes for Mr Rousseff.
How Brazil reacted - from BBC Monitoring
Several of Brazil's media outlets published their long-awaited headlines just minutes after President Rousseff's impeachment was confirmed.
Their readiness to bid farewell to the centre-left president comes as no surprise, given the active role that major right-leaning media networks played in the run-up to the vote.
The headlines are simple. Right-leaning network O Globo features a photo of President Rousseff looking dejected with the headline "Senate removes Dilma by 55 votes to 22".
Centre-right daily Folha de Sao Paulo leads with the headline "Dilma is removed". Their coverage notes that this is the second time since the end of Brazil 's military dictatorship that a president has been impeached.
Correio Braziliense also highlights this fact in an article entitled "Temer: from decorative vice to president", alluding to Temer's relative lack of prominence until now.
Left-leaning newspaper Diario do Centro do Mundo registers its discontent with the headline "With a scoreboard of 55 to 22, the coup is approved and Temer takes up the presidency". In general, the smaller, left-leaning press has been slower to publish its reaction to the finale of what has often been referred to as Brazil's real-life House of Cards.