Brazil's Rousseff vows to seek return if forced from office

Image
AFP London
Last Updated : May 05 2016 | 6:13 PM IST
Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff vowed during a defiant interview broadcast today to "continue to keep fighting" to return to power if she is forced from office.
Senators will vote next week on whether to open an impeachment trial against her over alleged manipulation of government financial accounts.
"We will continue to keep fighting to return to government. We will resist, resist, resist," she told the BBC in the Brazilian capital, Brasilia.
If, as expected, the Senate votes for a trial, she will be suspended for six months -- and many analysts believe she has little chance of ever returning to office.
She is accused of illegally manipulating government accounts but says she is the victim of a coup mounted by her vice president, Michel Temer, who would replace her if she is suspended.
"The impeachment process is illegitimate, illegal," she said, vowing to fight "to the bitter end" to return to power.
"Do not count on me to resign. If I resign, the living proof that there is a coup ... Disappears," she said.
Rousseff greeted the Olympic flame in Brazil on Tuesday in what may prove to be one of her final major public events as president.
"I risk not being present as president at the Olympic games. The fear that it won't be me but someone who has usurped my position gives me a feeling of sadness and injustice," she told the BBC.
"They may well investigate me. I'll accept any inquiry because I know I'm innocent.
"(But) even if it's proved later that the accusations were unfounded ... The damage is already done."
The impeachment case rests on accusations that Rousseff illegally manipulated government budget accounts, a relatively technical issue that Rousseff says has been politicised in order to mount a "coup" against her.
*Subscribe to Business Standard digital and get complimentary access to The New York Times

Smart Quarterly

₹900

3 Months

₹300/Month

SAVE 25%

Smart Essential

₹2,700

1 Year

₹225/Month

SAVE 46%
*Complimentary New York Times access for the 2nd year will be given after 12 months

Super Saver

₹3,900

2 Years

₹162/Month

Subscribe

Renews automatically, cancel anytime

Here’s what’s included in our digital subscription plans

Exclusive premium stories online

  • Over 30 premium stories daily, handpicked by our editors

Complimentary Access to The New York Times

  • News, Games, Cooking, Audio, Wirecutter & The Athletic

Business Standard Epaper

  • Digital replica of our daily newspaper — with options to read, save, and share

Curated Newsletters

  • Insights on markets, finance, politics, tech, and more delivered to your inbox

Market Analysis & Investment Insights

  • In-depth market analysis & insights with access to The Smart Investor

Archives

  • Repository of articles and publications dating back to 1997

Ad-free Reading

  • Uninterrupted reading experience with no advertisements

Seamless Access Across All Devices

  • Access Business Standard across devices — mobile, tablet, or PC, via web or app

More From This Section

First Published: May 05 2016 | 6:13 PM IST

Next Story