Brazil crisis: Rousseff vows to fight till the end
April 14, 2016, 3:51 am

A Datafolha poll published last week showed 61% of Brazilians support Rousseff’s removal from office [Image: Archives]

If she wins, Rousseff would propose a new pact among all the political forces to establish a unity government, the President told a press conference in Brasilia.

Should two-thirds of the lawmakers in the House of Deputies vote in favor of her impeachment on Sunday, Rousseff said she “would not interfere.” However, she also did not rule out the possibility of lodging an appeal in the Supreme Court against the result and would fight “till the last minute”.

On Sunday, security is expected to be stepped up in the capital Brasilia as the vote takes place. Brazilians are divided right down the center as supporters of Rousseff and those asking for her impeachment are expected to rally in the streets.

The president also denounced “a conspiracy aiming to bring about a coup in Brazil,” led by Vice President Michel Temer and Eduardo Cunha, president of the Chamber of Deputies. Both men are from the Brazilian Democratic Movement Party (PMDB), a key coalition partner of Rousseff’s left-leaning Workers’ Party.

Before becoming President, Rousseff was imprisoned and tortured for her participation in armed resistance against a  21-year military dictatorship that ended in 1985.

Brazil, Rousseff said on Tuesday, is “living in strange times…times of a coup, of farce and betrayal”.

In an interview to Brazilian daily Estado, PMDB leader Temer has said he “is prepared” to take over as president “if destiny takes me to that position.”

The Chamber of Deputies will start the debate on her impeachment on Friday morning, and the process will last until the crucial vote set on Sunday.

For the impeachment proceedings to move forward, 342 of the 513 lawmakers, or 67 percent, will have to vote in favor. If not, the proceedings will be shelved.

Tens of thousands of Brazilians waving the red flags of the ruling Workers’ Party took to streets across the country last month to protest against the impeachment.

TBP and Agencies