- Title: Suspended President Dilma Rousseff presents defence in Brazil's lower house
- Date: 29th August 2016
- Summary: BRASILIA, BRAZIL (AUGUST 29, 2016) (REUTERS) EXTERIOR OF BRAZILIAN CONGRESS
- Embargoed: 13th September 2016 14:51
- Keywords: impeachment Dilma Rousseff Workers' Party PT Cunha
- Location: BRASILIA, BRAZIL
- City: BRASILIA, BRAZIL
- Country: Brazil
- Topics: Lawmaking,Government/Politics
- Reuters ID: LVA0014X6IK3R
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text:EDITORS PLEASE NOTE: EDIT CONTAINS MATERIAL THAT WAS ORIGINALLY 4:3
Suspended President Dilma Rousseff told the Senate on Monday (August 29) the future of Brazil was at stake in her impeachment trial as her conservative opponents were using trumped-up charges to oust her and roll back the social advances of the past 13 years.
The leftist leader, appearing before the Senate to defend herself in a process expected to result in her removal from office this week, said Brazil's economic elite and political opposition had sought to destabilise her government since her 2014 re-election.
"In the face of these accusations against me in this process, I cannot stop feeling in my mouth the sharp and bitter taste of injustice and the arbitrariness, and that's why, as in the past, I resist. Don't expect from me the silent obsequiousness to cowards, who in the past used weapons and today the judicial rhetoric that aims anew to undermine democracy and the rule of law," said Rousseff.
Rousseff denied charges of breaking budgetary rules and denounced the nine-month impeachment process that has paralysed Brazilian politics as a plot to overthrow her and protect the interests of Brazil's privileged classes, including the privatisation of public assets such as massive subsalt oil reserves.
She warned that a conservative government would slash spending on social programmes, undoing the gains of the past decade in the fight against poverty.
"I was elected by more than 54 million voters. I assumed the commitment to maintain defence and comply with the constitution, as well as to observe the laws, to promote the general well-being of the Brazilian people, to sustain the union, integrity and independence of Brazil," said Rousseff.
Several hundred supporters chanted "Dilma, warrior of the Brazilian nation" outside Congress when her motorcade arrived, and held signs opposed to interim president, Michel Temer.
"We have hope. It's sad participating in this moment. A step backwards. We are sad because of that, but will always have hope," said Rousseff supporter, Losane Tietbohl.
"I am retired. I travel to Rio, Sao Paulo, Porto Alegre. I don't know the day or time. I don't need to bathe, have breakfast. I need to fight for my woman. For a woman who is honest, correct, who has nothing to do with this," added Malvina Lima.
"I think there exists the possibility that they will realise there was no crime, and no need for impeachment," said Elzivir Guerra.
However, with the odds stacked against her, Rousseff's testimony appears to be aimed at making a point for the history books that her impeachment was a travesty, rather than a bid to sway the 81-seat Senate to block her ouster.
If the Senate convicts Rousseff on Tuesday or Wednesday as expected, Temer, 75, will be sworn in to serve the rest of her term through 2018. His business-friendly government vows to take unpopular austerity measures to plug a growing fiscal deficit that cost Brazil its investment-grade credit rating last year. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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