Rousseff confident about averting impeachment at lower house

President Dilma Rousseff said Wednesday (Mar. 23) that she is convinced that the impeachment case against her at the Chamber of Deputies will be voted down at the house. The government relies on at least 172 votes from a total 513 deputies to avert an impeachment trial even before the case proceeds to the Senate.

A 65-member Special Committee on Impeachment was set up at the Chamber of Deputies last week. Deputy Jovair Arantes, the rapporteur, will issue a report recommending or rejecting impeachment that will have to be approved by the committee. If the committee upholds impeachment, the approved recommendation will be put to vote before the full chamber.

President Rousseff was officially notified about the beginning of the impeachment proceedings last Thursday (17), and has been given a deadline of 10 sessions of the Chamber of Deputies to put on a defense.

*With additional reporting by Paulo Victor Chagas.

Translated by Mayra Borges