Brazil's Senate to proceed with Rousseff impeachment proceedings

In a latest twist in the long running saga of proceedings against Dilma Rousseff, the Brazilian Senate says it will go ahead with a vote on her impeachment.

Earlier the new speaker of the lower house had made a surprise ruling that a previous vote to start the process against the president was flawed.

His decision was then over-ruled by the speaker of the Senate.

It is not up to the President of the Senate to say whether is it or is not fair, but up to the senate plenary, all the senators together. That was the decision taken by the Supreme Court.

Rousseff lives to lead another day: Brazil’s lower house suspends impeachment process https://t.co/3pLaUPLEzv pic.twitter.com/NgiVuyFXc6

— euronews (@euronews) May 9, 2016

“It is not up to the President of the Senate to say whether is it or is not fair, but up to the senate plenary, all the senators together. That was the decision taken by the Supreme Court,“Senate President, Renan Calheiros said.

Rousseff faces allegations that her government broke budgetary laws.

She believes the best way to deal with the issue is to call early elections.

“To change the course of what will be done up until 2018, there is only one way to change the government’s programme – through direct elections,” Rousseff said.

For now the vote to decide whether Rousseff should go on trial is set for Wednesday.

If it is voted through, the president would be suspended from office and the trial could take up to six months.

Euronews