Brazil Senate to vote on trying President Rousseff today
Brasília - President Dilma Rousseff 
Brazil's Senate will hold a session this Wednesday (May 11) to vote on a recommendation drafted by Senator Antonio Anastasia and approved by the impeachment committee to put President Dilma Rousseff on trial. Rousseff is charged with violating budget laws.
The session opens with the floor debates—the 67 senators listed to speak on the floor will have 15 minutes each. The session will be split into three sittings, running from 9am to noon, 1pm to 6pm, and 7pm onwards. Following the speeches, Senator Anastasia will also have 15 minutes to state his case, followed by Attorney-General José Eduardo Cardozo, who will speak on behalf of President Rousseff. The defense statements will be the last part of the debate.
Senators will vote on electronic systems and will not be allowed to make any statements as they vote. Each senator can vote yes, no, or abstain. The result will be announced once the voting is over.
Should senators decide that the impeachment case will go to trial, President Dilma Rousseff will be suspended for 180 days. The quorum is 41 of the 81 senators (absolute majority). A majority of attending senators (half the number of senators in attendance plus one senator) is required for approving trial. The president of the Senate will not cast a vote unless there is a draw.
Should the president be suspended, Vice-President Michel Temer takes over the reins. According to Senate President Renan Calheiros, no special ceremonies will be needed to swear him in, because he took the oath of office on the occasion of President Dilma Rousseff's inauguration on January 1st, 2015.
Translated by Mayra Borges
Fonte: Brazil Senate to vote on trying President Rousseff today
