Brazil impeachment: Dilma Rousseff condemns ‘coup’ and ‘farce’

Publish date : 12 May, 2016

Brazil's President Dilma Rousseff speaks during a ceremony where she signs into law, the bill that allocates the country's oil royalties to education and health care, at the Planalto Palace in Brasilia September 9, 2013. REUTERS/Celso Junior

BBC, May 12: Brazil’s President Dilma Rousseff has condemned the move to impeach her as a “coup” and a “farce”, denying she has committed any crimes.

She was addressing the nation on TV for the first time since senators voted overnight to suspend her for budgetary violations and put her on trial.

Ms Rousseff vowed to fight the “injustice” by all legal means. Vice-President Michel Temer will assume the presidency while Ms Rousseff’s trial takes place.

The trial may last up to 180 days, which would mean Ms Rousseff would be suspended during the Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, which start on 5 August.