Brazil’s Senate removes President Dilma Rousseff from office

Brazil's suspended President Dilma Rousseff attends the final session of debate and voting on Rousseff's impeachment trial in Brasilia, Brazil, August 29, 2016. REUTERS/Ueslei Marcelino
Brazil’s suspended President Dilma Rousseff attends the final session of debate and voting on Rousseff’s impeachment trial in Brasilia, Brazil, August 29, 2016. REUTERS/Ueslei Marcelino

 

(REUTERS)   Brazil’s Senate removed leftist President Dilma Rousseff from office on Wednesday for breaking budgetary laws, in an impeachment process that has polarized the Latin American country and paralyzed its politics for nine months.

Senators voted 61-20 to convict Rousseff for illegally using money from state banks to boost public spending. Her conservative former Vice President Michel Temer, who has run the country since her suspension in May, will be sworn to serve out the remainder of her term through 2018.

A separate vote will be held on whether Rousseff will be barred from public office for eight years.