A non-binding resolution by a Congressional committee suggested the impeachment of Brazilian President, Dilma Rousseff.
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Rousseff is facing impeachment proceedings over allegations her administration violated fiscal rules to mask budget problems.
After winning Monday’s skirmish in the committee – where only a simple majority was required to win – opponents of Rousseff declared they were on a roll.
Following a heated and chaotic debate, the 65-member panel voted 38 to 27 to recommend the impeachment of the embattled leader.
The deciding vote is expected to take place on Sunday and if two-thirds of its members agree to impeachment the president will be immediately be suspended and will have to stand trial.
“Now that the Chamber of Deputies has decided by a significant vote to authorize the start of the impeachment process against the president”, says Temer, “the great mission, as of this moment, is the pacification of the country, the reunification of the country”.
While her supporters said the move is an attempt at a “coup” orchestrated by Vice President Michel Temer, the opposition described the decision as the “end of the era of the Workers Party”, which the President of the Popular Socialist Party described as a “criminal organization”.
If the case is taken up by the Senate after being confirmed by the lower house, Rousseff would have to step down for up to 180 days while a trial is held.
Among those under investigation is the president of the lower house, Eduardo Cunha, who is leading the calls for Rousseff’s impeachment.
AP stressed that newspaper Folha de S. Paulo released an audio of an address by Temer, which appears to be a draft of an address that the current Vice President would make to the Brazilian people if the impeachment process were to move forward.
The rift between Rousseff and her vice president reached breaking point on Monday after an audio message of Temer calling for a government of national unity was released apparently by mistake, further muddying Brazil’s political water.
President Rousseff’s popularity has dived in recent months.
At a news conference later Monday in Brasilia, Temer said the 13-minute audio was recorded for a friend, but was sent “by accident” to fellow party members. “I am not saying anything new (in the audio) because those are theories that I have defended in the course of time”, Temer told reporters defending himself.
In his message, Temer said he did not want to get ahead of events, but he had to show the country he was ready to lead it if needed. “He is fighting for votes”, Berzoini added.
A poll by the respected Datafolha institute on Saturday showed that 61 per cent of Brazilians support Rousseff’s impeachment, down from 68 per cent in mid-March.
The move to impeach president Rousseff has divided Brazil and the police are bracing up for mass protests in the capital, Brasilia.
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However, the lower house vote in a week’s time – when it really matters – is on a knife edge. Arantes said in his official report on Friday that there were constitutional grounds to impeach Rousseff.
