Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff is facing possible impeachment by Congress. The effort comes amid an angry public mood over the South American nation’s worst recession in decades and a big bribery scandal at the state oil company Petrobras, yet it is not tied to either of those. Here’s an explanation of what’s behind the movement to oust her, and how it could play out:
WHAT IS ROUSSEFF ACCUSED OF DOING?
Rousseff is accused of breaking fiscal laws by shifting around government funds ahead of her 2014 re-election campaign. Opposition parties say sleight-of-hand accounting allowed her to boost public spending to shore up votes. Rousseff denies any wrongdoing, saying she didn’t do anything that was not common practice in all prior administrations. She further argues that she isn’t being accused of a crime, which should be the basis for any impeachment.
