The eyes of the world were on Brazil during the Rio Olympics. Although the Olympics have ended, Brazil is still in the spotlight. Dilma Rousseff, the Brazilian President, was impeached this week because of allegations stating that she manipulated Brazil's budget.
Rousseff became involved in politics when she joined a resistance against the Brazilian dictatorship that was in power during the 1960's and 1970's. She became the first female president of Brazil in 2011 and was voted into office again in 2014.
The allegations against Rousseff accused her of manipulating Brazil's budget to make her policies more successful. This would have made it easier for her to gain a second term in office and is illegal in Brazil. She denies the allegations brought against her, likening the impeachment to a coup. Rousseff suggests that she was accused because she made an effort to root corruption out of the Brazilian government. She was suspended in May so that her trial could be carried out.
Dilma Rousseff was officially removed from her position on August 31, 2016. The Brazilian Senate achieved the two-thirds vote necessary to impeach Rousseff. Although Rousseff has been removed from office, she is able to run again. The Brazilian presidential office does not stand empty, the Brazilian Vice President, Michel Temer, took up the role of president following Rousseff's suspension and was sworn in following her impeachment. Temer will continue his role as president until the next Brazilian elections, in early 2019.
