(VOVworld) - Brazil's Senate is debating whether President Dilma Rousseff should face a full impeachment trial on charges of illegally manipulating finances to hide a growing public deficit ahead of her re-election in 2014. If a majority votes in favour, Ms Rousseff will be automatically suspended from office. VOV comments on Brazil’s worst political crisis in recent history and its potential impact on Brazil’s economy.

Brazil's President Dilma Rousseff

On Wednesday (local time), 81 senators will vote on whether President Rousseff will be suspended from office to face an impeachment trial. If 41 senators vote in favour, Rousseff will be suspended from office for 6 months and Vice President Michel Temer will temporarily replace her. President of the Senate Renan Calheiros says the impeachment trial will be long and traumatic.

Brazil’s Senate conducted an impeachment vote on President Rousseff on April 17 although she was not under any investigation or accusation of corruption.

Denying accusations

President Rousseff has accused Vice President Michel Temer and former President of the Lower House Eduardo Cunha of masterminding a coup which violates the Constitution. She said what is happening is an indirect election in which voters have no right to choose.

Supporters of President Rousseff blockaded streets May 10 to protest the impeachment. Police have installed barricades on 14 highways in 26 states and the Federal District, home to the capital Brasilia. In Rio de Janeiro, protesters have erected a blockade on the main road leading to Sao Paulo. The Brazil Popular Front a right-wing organization has launched a demonstration campaign against the impeachment. On a Facebook page, it has vowed to fight for democracy in Brazil and say no to the coup.

On that day, Attorney General Jose Eduardo Cardoza appealed to the Supreme Court to reject the impeachment on the President, which he called a politically motivated and groundless accusation.

Secretary General of the Organization of American States (OAS) Luis Almagro said a legal consultative meeting with the US Human Rights Court will be held. He said the OAS is responsible for monitoring democracy enforcement and expressed his concern over judicial security in Brazil. Almagro said President Rousseff has not betrayed the voters’ trust during her presidential term.

Challenges for Brazil’s economy  

International observers say Rousseff’s staying or leaving will not affect the root of the problem in Brazil. Brian Winter of an organization called Americans Society and Council of the Americas said there will be no winner in the impeachment of Rousseff. The Senate itself has lost the people’s trust. 352 of 594 senators are accused of violating the law. Brazil’s economy has plunged into deep recession with a budget deficit that is 11% of GDP. A Zika virus epidemic has been spreading in Brazil’s northeastern region. Whoever is President will have to steer Brazil out of the current political and economic crisis and manage a complicated budget and tax system. The current political turmoil is making any economic recovery more difficult.