Brazil´s Federal Court of Accounts Creates Grounds for Rejection of Rousseff's Accounts

04/17/2015 - 10h04

Brazil´s Federal Court of Accounts (TCU) decision to consider irregular the fiscal manoeuvres adopted last year to fix deficits has created new risks for President Dilma Rousseff and cheered the opposition that supports an impeachment process against her.

Folha has learnt that the court's technical experts and also some Ministers may suggest the Congress does not approve the public accounts on grounds of violating the law of Fiscal Responsibility, an unheard fact in the court's history.

In Congress, opposition leaders considered the decision a new element to justify an impeachment process. As a result, Rousseff would be removed from office to be prosecuted for the crime of responsibility.

Senator Aécio Neves (PSDB-MG), who lost the 2014 election to Rousseff, said his party will ask for the President's impeachment if her participation in fiscal manoeuvres is proven.

On Wednesday (15), the Federal Court has concluded that the Government disregarded the law of Fiscal Responsibility when it used money from public banks to cover expenses that should have been paid with Treasury resources.

The manoeuvres allowed the Treasury to transfer US$ 13 billion (R$ 40 billion) to the official banks that ran social programs such as Bolsa Familia and Minha Casa, Minha Vida and pay social benefits such as unemployment insurance.

Translated by JULIANA CALDERARI

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	Joel Rodrigues/Folhapress
	Aroldo Cedraz, chairman of the TCU