Brasilia, Brazil – Brazil’s Chamber of Deputies has voted to impeach President Dilma Rousseff, delivering a major blow to a long-embattled leader who has repeatedly argued the push against her was a “coup.”
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Rousseff is accused of using accounting tricks in managing the federal budget to maintain spending and shore up support. She has said previous presidents have used similar maneuvers and stressed that she has not been charged with any crimes or implicated in any corruption scandals.
However, she failed to secure the support she needed, and lawmakers in the lower house voted to oust her.
With at least 342 of 513 deputies, or 2/3, voting in favor of impeachment, the measure passed late Sunday. Several lawmakers had yet to vote, so the final tally could be even wider for the opposition.
The measure now goes to the Senate. If by a simple majority the Senate votes to take it up and put the president on trial, Rousseff will be