Brazil's President Dilma Rousseff dealt impeachment blow
Brazil's President Dilma Rousseff has been dealt a highly damaging political blow after a congressional committee voted in favour of impeaching her.
Members of the committee voted 38 to 27 to proceed with a motion to remove Rousseff from office following claims she manipulated government accounts to allegedly favor her re-election in 2014.
Rousseff has denied any wrongdoing and denied charges of breaking budget laws to support her re-election.
Although not binding, Monday's committee vote does set the stage for a full vote of the lower house to approve what could be the country’s first presidential impeachment.
The deciding vote is expected to take place on Sunday and if two-thirds of its members agree to impeachment the President will immediately be suspended and will have to stand trial.
According to Rousseff's Chief of Staff, Jaques Wagner, the President was "perplexed and saddened" by the committee vote and has rallied her Workers' Party to oppose what she claims is a "coup against a democratically-elected President".