by Maria Carolina Marcello and Alonso Soto
BRASILIA (Reuters) – Dilma Rousseff lost Sunday a crucial battle in its fight to maintain it at the head of Brazil with the green light given by the Brazilian deputies to his dismissal, which could end 13 years of power of the workers Party (PT).
While thousands of supporters and opponents of President showed separately before Congress in Brasilia, as in many cities in Brazil, the MPs who opposed his removal have easily met the two-thirds majority required in the lower house of parliament.
After the final statement of votes, 367 elected voted for impeachment, 137 against and seven abstained. Two MPs did not take part in the poll.
Members of the opposition have left their joy, fists raised, forming a scrum in Brazilian colors, green and yellow, around which elected provided the 342nd decisive vote of 513 deputies, after several hours of voting.
in the two largest cities, Sao Paulo and Rio de Janeiro, fireworks illuminated the night sky while horns sounded concerts.
It is now up to the Senate to decide the fate of the president, accused of having made up the public accounts to support his re-election for a second four-year term in 2014.
If the Senate decides that the procedure can continue, as seems likely, Dilma Rousseff, gradually abandoned by its allies in recent weeks, will be automatically suspended and his Vice President Michel Temer acting as head of of State. If confirmed the dismissal, Michel Temer will remain at the head of Brazil until the scheduled end of the mandate of Dilma Rousseff, is 2018.
COUNTRY DIVIDED
This policy battle which comes as Brazil is plunged into its deepest economic recession since the 1930s has divided this country of 200 million people as never since the end of military dictatorship in 1985.
crisis has further degenerated into open conflict between Dilma Rousseff and Michel Temer, a centrist than 75 years, which is expected to perpetuate political instability, whatever the outcome of the procedure.
After 13 years at the helm of the country, the workers party has retained the powerful support of part of the popular classes, grateful for the improvement of millions dozens of quality of life since the accession to the presidency of Dilma mentor Rousseff, Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva.
“the battle will now continue in the streets and in the Senate,” responded Jose Guimaraes, leading members of the PT. “We lost because the coup-mongers were stronger.”
In addition to the hundreds of thousands of demonstrators gathered by pro- and anti-Rousseff across the country, millions of Brazilians followed the vote live deputies on TV, in bars, at home or on large screens in the streets.
in Brasilia, a fence two meters high was erected on over a kilometer to separate the two rival gatherings, symbol of the country’s division.
in a video and an article published in the press before the vote, Dilma Rousseff, the first woman to lead the largest Latin American countries, denied having committed acts warranting his dismissal, with the procedure for the out of power as a “coup” and “the biggest legal and political fraud” in the history of Brazil.
cORRUPTION
in addition to the charge of manipulation of public accounts, its power has also been weakened by the economic recession and the Petrobras case, an alleged corruption case large scale involving the powerful oil company.
his supporters point out that the set of accounting records which he is charged is frequently used by politicians in Brazil.
by voting, number of opposition politicians have denounced corruption and economic hardship but few have mentioned the budget issue.
Dilma Rousseff was not personally implicated by Petrobras justice in the file, contrary many of the members who were asked to vote on his fate, foremost among them the president of the chamber, his former ally Eduardo Cunha. According to the website Congresso em Foco independent information policy, more than 300 members are subject to a bribery investigation, fraud or breach of electoral code.
The Brazilian business community have put their weight behind the battle against Dilma Rousseff, building on Michel Temer to restore business confidence and revive the economy.
Adriano Pires, head of the Brazilian Institute of infrastructure, said that up to away from Rousseff could lead to a significant liberalization of the oil sector. Unions fear for their part privatizations and job cuts.
While Brazilian stocks and the currency has recently been among the best performing assets in the world with the prospect of impeachment Dilma Rousseff, the vote of the deputies should strengthen this trend on Monday in the capital markets of Brazil
. (with Reuters correspondents in Brazil; Henri-Pierre André and Bertrand Boucey for the French service)
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