The impeachment of Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff is on.
It’s not clear whether the upcoming proceedings will lead to Rousseff’s ouster but, in a decision announced early Friday, Brazil’s Supreme Court assured that they will go on.
In an 8-2 vote, the high court rejected a motion filed the previous day by Attorney General Jose Eduardo Cardozo to block the proceedings.
The decision came in an extraordinary session that started Thursday night, during to an extraordinarily difficult period in Brazil. This year was supposed to be an exciting, landmark year for the nation and its leader: the summer Olympics — the first ever in South America — an opportunity to shine.
The Games in Rio will continue, though there’s no guarantee that Rousseff will be in charge of Brazil when they do.
If passed, goes on to Senate
The lower house of Brazil’s national legislature began debate on impeachment Friday morning. A final vote isn’t expected until Sunday.
At least two-thirds of the chamber’s 513 members must assent for the matter to be passed on to the Senate. The head of the country’s Supreme Court would preside over the Senate proceedings.
Rousseff’s exit would mark a tremendous fall from grace from a once-popular politician.
She has been dogged by complaints over her handling of a deepening recession, though that’s hardly the only criticism.
There also have been accusations of cronyism and corruption. Prosecutors have accused former President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva of benefiting from a bribery scheme involving state-owned oil company Petrobras both during his tenure and afterward.
Rousseff sought to appoint her former mentor as her chief of staff, which would have given him certain protections from prosecution.