Impeachment of Dilma Rousseff: August 30, 2016

On August 30, 2016, Dilma Rousseff, the first female President of Brazil, was impeached and removed from office by the Brazilian Senate. This event marked a significant turning point in Brazilian politics, ending 13 years of governance by the Workers’ Party (Partido dos Trabalhadores, PT).

Background

Dilma Rousseff, a member of the Workers’ Party, was elected as Brazil’s first female president in 2010 and re-elected in 2014. Her presidency was initially marked by economic growth and social programs that lifted millions out of poverty. However, her second term was plagued by economic recession, rising unemployment, and a massive corruption scandal involving the state-controlled oil company Petrobras, which implicated numerous politicians and business leaders.

Charges and Impeachment Process

The impeachment process against Rousseff was initiated on charges of fiscal mismanagement. Specifically, she was accused of using accounting tricks, known as “pedaladas fiscais” (fiscal pedaling), to hide budget deficits and maintain government spending ahead of her 2014 re-election campaign. These practices allegedly violated Brazil’s fiscal responsibility laws.

The impeachment proceedings began in December 2015, when the lower house of Congress, the Chamber of Deputies, voted to proceed with the charges. The process then moved to the Senate, which suspended Rousseff from office in May 2016, pending a trial.

The Senate Trial and Verdict

The trial in the Senate was a highly contentious and politically charged affair. Rousseff defended herself, arguing that her impeachment was a coup d’état orchestrated by her political opponents. Despite her defense, on August 30, 2016, the Senate voted 61 to 20 in favor of her removal from office, surpassing the two-thirds majority required.

Aftermath and Significance

Following her impeachment, Vice President Michel Temer, who had been serving as acting president during her suspension, was sworn in as the new president. Rousseff’s removal marked the end of the Workers’ Party’s 13-year rule, which began with the election of Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva in 2003.

The impeachment deepened political divisions in Brazil and sparked widespread protests both in support of and against Rousseff. It also highlighted broader issues of corruption and governance in the country, contributing to a period of political instability and economic uncertainty.

Rousseff’s impeachment remains a controversial topic in Brazil, with debates over its legitimacy and the motivations behind it continuing to resonate in Brazilian society and politics.