Dilma Rousseff Removed from Presidency of Brazil

On Wednesday, September 1, the Brazilian Senate removed leftist President Dilma Rousseff from her position due to violations of budget laws. The Latin American country had been embroiled in Rousseff's impeachment case for nine months. According to Reuters, the Brazilian Senate voted 61 in favor and 20 against to remove the president from office. Rousseff has been accused of illegally using funds from state banks for current expenses. Opposing lawmakers have accused the Brazilian president of increasing current expenditures, leading to a budget deficit and consequently an economic recession in a country that had been experiencing economic growth for many years. The former Brazilian president described the senators' actions as a 'coup.' Michel Temer, Rousseff's conservative vice president who has been governing Brazil since May, is set to be sworn in as president and will hold the position until 2018. The Associated Press reports that many Brazilians have not been impressed by his management in recent months. When Temer opened the Rio Olympics on August 5, he was heavily booed by the audience. Another proposal is set to be voted on, which, if approved, would bar Rousseff from participating in politics for eight years. Dilma Rousseff was the first female president of Brazil. She was involved in guerrilla movements during the dictatorship in the 1970s. Supporters of Rousseff have stated that they will appeal to Brazil's Supreme Court, although their previous requests to stop the impeachment process have not succeeded.