BRASILIA, Brazil (AP) – President Dilma Rousseff on Monday appeared on the verge of losing office after a congressional vote to impeach her and signs suggested only tenuous support for her in the Senate, which will decide whether to remove her amid a political and economic crisis.
The 367-137 lower house vote in favor of impeachment late Sunday sent the issue to the Senate, where 45 of the 81 senators have indicated they will vote to hold an impeachment trial, according to local reports.
If a majority of senators vote to put Rousseff on trial, she would be suspended while Vice President Michel Temer temporarily took over.
Under the complicated guidelines of the impeachment process, it could be a little more than 10 days until that vote is cast and a minimum of 40 days until the Rousseff’s fate is decided. However, the speed of the process also depends on the political will of Senate leader Renan Calheiros, who could potentially drag the eventual trial and final vote out for months.
Speaking at a news conference Monday, Rousseff said she would not be stepping down.