Brazil president's impeachment recommended by Senate commission

The Senate's special commission on impeachment voted 15 to 5 in favor of the report drafted by Antonio Anastasia, rapporteur in the case, backing the admissibility of the proceedings against President Dilma Rousseff.

The result was announced by Senator Raimundo Lira, chairman of the commission, and should be read out loud during an ordinary session on the floor slated for 2 pm next Monday (May 9).

The reading will also mark the beginning of the 48-hour term the upper house is given to conclude deliberations by all 81 senators. The sitting aimed to fulfill that requirement is slated for Wednesday (11). As was the case with the special commission, the vote requires simple majority to advance the impeachment effort—half of all senators in attendance plus one. Should that be attained, the president will be notified on the outcome and kept out of office for 180 days. Vice-President Michel Temer steps up as acting head of state.

After that, the full upper house must hold a ballot on the proceedings within 180 days. The vote this time would be chaired by the head of the Supreme Court and should garner two thirds of the ballots to win—52 of all 81 senators.

If the president is acquitted, she resumes office immediately; otherwise, Rousseff is ousted permanently and Temer becomes president of Brazil up to the end of the tenure.

Translated by Fabrício Ferreira