President Dilma Rousseff Has Been Impeached, Brazil Celebrates

By Trevor Durham on August 31, 2016

After many years of troubles, endless struggle and turmoil, the Brazilian Senate has impeached President Dilma Rousseff from office for fiscal problems.

Brazil’s President Dilma Rousseff

The impeachment process began last Thursday, with Rouseff herself speaking Monday night to answer questions from the Senate lasting almost fourteen hours.

Through coups, a year of struggle between her government and opposition senators, and the international eye on the Rio Olypmics, many have wondered where the power structure was headed. Today marks a big step for Brazil and neighboring countries, removing a leader of many economic problems facing the country.

Rousseff herself is a sixty-eight year old ex-guerilla fighter, the first woman to serve as a Brazilian president. She joined a Marxist guerilla group after a 1964 coup, helping overthrow a military dictatorship. In recent years, she has been accused of hiding finanicial statements, rigging elections, and corruption. Major scandals include the Petrobras scandal, the Amazon Basin hydroelectric dams, her stances on the LGBT community, the Zika outbreak and lack of governmental control, and the many protests she has caused.

Soldiers stand guard outside Planalto presidential palace where protesters have projected the word “Impeachment” on the building, as they call for the impeachment of Brazil’s President Dilma Rousseff in Brasilia, Brazil.

In May, the Brazilian Senate originally suspended President Rousseff, accusing her of illegal monetary uses to hide Brazil’s financial problems from the world stage. Over the last decade, Brazil has been steadily declining in recession, many attributing it to bad government economic plans.

Brazil’s future is uncertain, but hopeful after removing a huge figure-head for the problems and corruption the nation has faced.

As news continues, follow us at FSU ULoop, where we will continue to bring you up to the minute coverage of international development.

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