Only 39 Senators In Favour of Rousseff's Definitive Ousting

04/26/2016 - 09h29

Even if some senators consider President Dilma Rousseff's temporary suspension from Presidency as a given, a survey by Folha has revealed that, on the contrary, there are still not sufficient votes in the Senate to force her exit from office.

While 50 senators confirmed they would vote in favour of impeachment, just 39 said they would support the ousting of the President from her role.

"We cannot ignore the fact that in the lower house the vote passed with a majority of 367. However, we have to analyse keenly the ins and outs of the affair, to come to a conclusion as to whether Rousseff has committed the crime of abusing her responsibility," stated Popular Socialist Party senator Cristovam Buarque.

Buarque declared himself in favour of allowing the process to go ahead, but has not decided his position regarding the final judgement.

If the Senate vote in favour of impeachment on the 12 May, Rousseff will be forced to stand down for as much as 180 days. Her current Vice President, Michel Temer, will take over.

A pro-impeachment victory needs just 41 votes, assuming all 81 members of the Senate are present. According to the survey, there are already 9 more voting in favour than is needed to pass the vote.

Over this period, the special impeachment committee will analyse the details of the process, carrying out demarches, hearing witness statements and allowing the defence to argue its case.

Should the committee not finish their task in the period of temporary resignation (180 days), Rousseff could take up office again.

For the President to lose her mandate completely 54 votes are needed. In this case, according to the Folha's research, the Senate is 15 votes short.

Eleven senators are reluctant to declare their position and seven say that they are undecided. Three refused to answer the questions.

The government has the support of 21 senators, who do not want to impeach the President. There are 20 votes against the opening of the process. The difference is ex-Minister Eduardo Braga, who will be absent on medical leave at the first vote. This will go in the government's favour.

This Monday (25), the Senate will form a special impeachment committee, with 21 official members and 21 substitutes. The group will have ten working days to make their report and present it to the plenary.

Translated by GILLIAN SOPHIE HARRIS

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