Brazil’s suspended President Dilma Rousseff faces impeachment trial in disastrous backdrop for Rio Olympics

On Wednesday, the country’s senate voted overwhelmingly to put suspended president Dilma Rousseff on trial for impeachment that could mark the end of her political career and throw the country into chaos.

During the marathon 21-hour session politicians voted 59 to 21 in favour of trying the former Marxist guerilla in a case that is expected to begin just five days after theOlympics close.

The 68-year-old, who is the country’s first female president, has been suspended since May over allegations she used illegal accounting practices to hide economic problems in Brazil.

It’s alleged she used unapproved loans to boost the country’s finances before the 2014 election and she has been blamed for driving Brazil into its worst recession in 80 years.

Rousseff claims the accounting moves were common practice and the trial is an attempted coup by her political rivals — many of whom are also embroiled in political scandal themselves.

It’s a disastrous backdrop for the Olympics that are supposed to be a celebration of Brazil’s coming of age and political stability.

Instead, the first games hosted in South American have become a hotbed of protest,empty venues and management bungles that have left ordinary people fuming at the dysfunctional political system.

Ahead of the vote on whether or not the suspended president should face trial, Supreme Court head Ricardo Lewandowski said politicians were about to “exercise one of the most serious tasks under the constitution”.

Rousseff’s rival Senator Aecio Neves told AFP the “conditions are firmly in place for removing Dilma Rousseff”.
“What we are talking about today is defending the constitution and democracy itself. Those who commit crimes must be held responsible for them,” he said.

However allies of the Workers Party leader, who was imprisoned and tortured during the 1970s, warned it was a bad day for democracy.

Senator Paulo Rocha said “there is a political alliance that smells of a coup,” against Rousseff.
The impeachment trial is not the only cloud hanging over the country which is also reeling over a scandal involving state-owned oil company Petrobras.

Rousseff’s political mentor and former president Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, known as Lula, will face trial over his role in allegedly blocking a corruption investigation into the company.

WHAT HAPPENS NEXT?

If Rousseff is impeached, her vice president Michael Temer who is currently in charge, will carry on leading the country until the 2018 election. However it could spell the end for the Workers Party who has been in control for 13 years.

Temer has called for the Senate to act quickly, saying “people need to know who the president is”.

The left-wing candidate has moved to the right since coming to power and wants to move on plans to cap government spending and restore confidence.

The political mood of the games marks a sharp contrast to the excitement in 2009 when Brazil won hosting rights. Temer was booed at the opening ceremony and fans inside the venues have been evicted for holding political signs calling for his removal.

On Tuesday, a judge ruled that peaceful protests must be allowed inside Olympic venues after organisers removed fans from inside the competition. Rio’s organising committee said they would appeal the decision.

Earlier, Rio communications director Mario Andrata said venues are a “temple for sport” and requested those protesting to leave.

“Those who are protesting politically in the venues are requested not to do that. And if they persist they are kindly requested to leave,” he said.

However freelance journalist Manuela Trindade told AFP the Olympics were a “calamity” and she would protest against Temer.

“We want Temer out. It was a coup,” the 32-year-old said. “It’s very important that people don’t get used to the idea of accepting his government.

“I am worried there could be repression of the protests. But we don’t have the right to be afraid.”

A verdict on Rousseff is expected at the end of the month.