Brazilian Senators launched the impeachment trial of suspended president Dilma Rousseff on Thursday expected to end 13 years of populist rule in Latin America's biggest economy. The friendly spirit of the Rio Olympic Games faded and tension returned as the emotionally charged affair neared its climax, with Rousseff facing removal from office within days.
The Brazilian Senate will open the impeachment trial of suspended President Dilma Rousseff this Thursday and hear witnesses for and against the populist leader who is expected to be removed from office next week on charges of breaking budget laws.
By Michel Temer, Acting President of the Republic - The Olympic Games were an absolute success. This is the result of the work of each person who helped build the stadiums, the metro, the Olympic Village; each carioca who gave the right directions to our visitors.
Rio do Janeiro is the marvelous city, the heart of Brazil, are the lyrics of the song which identifies the sublime and the misery of Latin America's biggest country with the largest economy. This Sunday ended the almost three weeks 31st Summer Olympics hosted for the first time by a non developed country, and contrary to fears and uncertainties ended as a complete success, winning the hearts of all those who shared the Rio Games.
With the Rio Olympics over, Brazil’s attention returns to its long-running political drama as the country’s Senate starts the final phase of suspended President Dilma Rousseff’s impeachment trial, a proceeding widely expected to permanently remove her from power.
Police in Brazil investigating illegal Olympic ticket sales have arrested the head of the European Olympic Committees, Irishman Patrick Hickey, 71, who is suspected of being involved in a scheme to sell tickets for higher than their face value. He was taken to hospital as a precaution, and will probably stay the night there, police said.
The two U.S. swimmers who were abruptly taken off a plane and detained in Rio on Wednesday night have been allowed to leave the country and are headed for the United States.
Uruguay back stepped on its statements referred to Brazil's “bullying with the Mercosur presidency” and admits there was a misunderstanding regarding Brazil's invitation for a joint trade promotion in third countries, according to an official clarification Wednesday release from the Uruguayan foreign ministry.
The Brazilian government said it was deeply disappointed and surprised at statements from Uruguay's foreign minister, which are not compatible with the excelence of relations between Brazil and Uruguay, according to an official release from Itamaraty, Brazil's foreign ministry, regarding the controversy over the Mercosur presidency.
Brazil summoned Uruguay's ambassador on Tuesday after the neighboring country's foreign minister Rodolfo Nin Novoa accused Brazil of trying to buy its vote to block Venezuela from taking the rotating presidency of the Mercosur trade bloc.