Dilma Rousseff defends self ahead of Senate's ouster vote

On what could prove to be her last day as Brazil's president, Dilma Rousseff mounted a forceful defence of her time leading Latin America's most populous nation, warning senators that ousting her would hurt a young democracy while defiantly promising to go down fighting in what many see as a losing battle.

Rousseff, who has been suspended since May, delivered a 30-minute address yesterday at her impeachment trial in the Senate, then sat for questioning by senators that ran for more than 14 hours, until just before midnight.

The Senate began its proceedings anew this morning, with the prosecution and defense expected to make final arguments, a process that would likely take all day, before moving to a final vote. That could happen late today or tomorrow, depending on what the supreme court justice overseeing the proceedings decides.

Yesterday, some exchanges were heated, but most were civil and traversed themes that the country has been wrestling with since an impeachment measure was introduced in the lower House of Deputies late last year, polarising the nation.

Opposition senators accused Rousseff of breaking fiscal responsibility laws to hide holes in the federal budget, saying that exacerbated a recession that has led to 10 per cent inflation and daily announcements of layoffs.

She called that nonsense, contending she broke no laws and noting previous presidents used similar accounting measures.

She said she was forced to make tough choices on the budget in the face of declining revenues and a refusal by opponents in Congress to work with her.

If anything, she said, the impeachment process had hurt the economy, placing the blame on the opposition, which has argued that she has to be removed for the financial climate to improve.

"I know I will be judged, but my conscience is clear. I did not commit a crime," Rousseff told senators, who listened intently in contrast to the chamber's usual raucousness.

Watching the proceedings, Rousseff's mentor and predecessor as president, Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, who is himself under investigation, said: "She said what she had to say."

Yet many top leaders, including Silva, have acknowledged that Rousseff's chances of surviving the Senate's final vote are slim.

For Rousseff to be removed, at least 54 of the 81 senators need to vote in favor. Counts by local media say 52 senators have said they plan on voting for removal, while 18 are opposed and 11 have not said one way or another. In May, the same body voted 55-22 to impeach and suspend her.

"I need all of you, regardless of political parties," Rousseff said in her closing remarks to senators, urging them to keep her on the job. Their response was tepid.