Speaker annuls impeachment of Brazil’s president

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Speaker annuls impeachment of Brazil’s president

11:22 CAT | 09 May 2016

EPA / The left-wing Rousseff has been fighting for her political survival for several months now

The acting speaker of the lower house of Brazil’s Congress says the impeachment process against President Dilma Rousseff should be annulled while calling for a new vote in the chamber.

Waldir Maranhao, who took over as acting speaker last week, said on Monday that there were procedural flaws in the April 17 vote in the chamber that accepted impeachment charges against Rousseff.

After last month’s lower house vote, the impeachment process was passed to the Senate, where a Senate committee recommended on Friday that Rousseff be put on trial by the full chamber for breaking budget laws.

It is unclear whether Maranhao’s order could be overruled by the Supreme Court, the Senate or the lower house

In a news release, Maranhao said the impeachment process should be returned by the Senate so that the lower house can vote again.

It remained unclear whether his decision would be overruled by the Supreme Court, the Senate or a majority in the house.

The full Senate had been expected to vote to put Rousseff on trial on Wednesday, which would immediately suspend her for the duration of a trial that could last six months.

During that period, Vice President Michel Temer was due to replace her as acting president.

Rousseff’s reaction

A delighted-looking Rousseff interrupted a speech on Monday to supporters to say that she had just got unconfirmed news of the annulment order.

“I don’t know the consequences. Please be cautious,” she said, calling on her backers to “defend democracy”.

Early signs were that the Senate would ignore Maranhao’s order, possibly prompting a decisive battle in the Supreme Court.

Raimundo Lira, head of the chamber’s impeachment committee, said the vote would go ahead as planned, regardless of Maranhao’s intervention.

However there was no immediate word from Renan Calheiros, the Senate president, who was reported to be meeting party leaders.

Al Jazeera’s Teresa Bo, reporting from Buenos Aires in neighbouring Argentina, said Maranhao’s decision had taken everyone by surprise in Brazil.

“This Wednesday the Senate was expected to vote on whether or not to impeach President Rousseff,” she said.

“Nobody knows exactly what will happen now. Even the president herself.”

Senate sources told Al Jazeera that the impeachment vote was still on schedule as the official annulment announcement would be made only on Tuesday.

Until then, the Senate will not change the process, the sources added.

Brazilian markets fell sharply after the suspension of the impeachment process.

Rousseff, a leftist politician who denies wrongdoing, has been fighting for her political survival for several months now as opposition congressmen push aggressively for her removal.

Source: Al Jazeera