Impeachment Calendar Comes Into Focus in Brazil

(ATR) The Dilma Rousseff impeachment process could be over before the Olympic Flame arrives in Rio de Janeiro.

The Brazilian Senate will vote to confirm the schedule for the trial of the suspended President Rousseff on June 2 according to Journal Brasil. Rousseff has until June 1 to submit a preliminary defense to the Senate, while Senators have until the same day to submit a list of witnesses and evidence.

On May 12 the Senate voted to uphold impeachment charges brought from the Brazilian Lower House. In doing so, Rousseff was suspended for up to 180 days as a trial was convened to determine if she was guilty of the charges brought against her. Rousseff is accused of manipulating government finances to hide the scale of the country’s deficit ahead of the 2014 election.

The schedule that senators will be voting on has the body voting on the charges against Rousseff on Aug. 1 or 2, just days before the 2016 Olympic Opening Ceremony takes place on Aug. 5.

If the schedule passes, witnesses will be called from June 6-17 and Rousseff will be questioned by the Senate on June 20. Afterwards written statements will be presented from those against Rousseff on June 21-July 5 followed by those in favor of Rousseff on July 6-21.

The Senate impeachment committee will vote on their recommendation for the whole body on July 27 with the results being shared the next day. After at least 48 hours to deliberate on the recommendations, the Senate will vote whether or not to find Rousseff guilty of the charges against her.

Two thirds of the Senate, 54 votes, would be required to find Rousseff guilty. If Rousseff were found guilty she would be removed from office immediately and barred from running for any position for eight years.

Written by Aaron Bauer in Rio de Janeiro

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