Rousseff to argue her defense at Senate today

Brazil's suspended President Dilma Rousseff will argue her defense this Monday (Aug. 29) in her final impeachment trial. She is charged with issuing decrees in 2015 to create supplemental appropriations without congressional approval and using money from state banks to fund government programs that should be funded by the Treasury, which her accusers say were credit operations in disguise. The president was suspended from office by a Senate vote more than 100 days ago.

Last week, the Senate heard defense and prosecution witnesses. Rousseff will have 30 minutes for her arguments, extendable by an equal period, but Chief Supreme Court Justice Ricardo Lewandowski, who presides over the trial, may allow her to speak for longer at this initial stage.

After Rousseff's statements, senators will start asking questions. Each senator may use up to five minutes to ask their questions. Rousseff may take as long as she requires to answer, and there will be no further replies. She may also decline to answer any of the Senators' questions. More than half of the 81 senators have signed up for questions.

Rousseff will have 30 guests watch her defense statements at the Senate floor, including former President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, Workers' Party (PT) Chairman Rui Falcão, several former ministers from her cabinet, as well as advisers and other people close to her.

Her defense is expected to last all day and continue into the night. Senators supporting her impeachment affirm there will be no clashes, but say they are going to ask all the questions they want to ask. They believe Rousseff's presence at the Senate floor will not change the Senators' opinion.

Anti-impeachment senators, however, believe that Rousseff's arguments can change the Senators' minds. Senator Lindbergh Farias said Rousseff's allies are pinning all hopes on her defense statements. “It's going to bring Brazil to a standstill. I think the president can show the country she has been the victim of injustice and has committed no impeachable offenses. It could be a game-changer,” he said.

Translated by Mayra Borges