Debate Turns Vitriolic in Brazil as Impeachment Vote Nears

Friends and foes of Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff called each other “putchists” and “thieves” ahead of Sunday’s vote in Congress’ lower house on whether to proceed with her impeachment, as unprecedented levels of vitriol sparked fears of violence.
Debate Turns Vitriolic in Brazil as Impeachment Vote Nears
An Anti-government demonstrator holds a caricature of Brazil's President Dilma Rousseff wearing a bandit mask and sash that reads in Portuguese "Big oil" outside Congress where lawmakers debate whether to oust the Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff in Brasilia, Brazil, on April 16, 2016. Sunday's vote will determine whether the impeachment proceeds to the Senate. Rousseff is accused of violating Brazil's fiscal laws to shore up public support amid a flagging economy. AP Photo/Eraldo Peres
The Associated Press
Updated:

BRASILIA, Brazil—Friends and foes of Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff called each other “putchists” and “thieves” ahead of Sunday’s vote in Congress’ lower house on whether to proceed with her impeachment, as unprecedented levels of vitriol sparked fears of violence.

Emotions have been running high since the impeachment proceedings began in the Chamber of Deputies on Friday, with lawmakers holding raucous, name-calling session. Outside the legislature, waves of pro- and anti-impeachment demonstrators were expected to flood the capital of Brasilia on Sunday. A metal wall was installed to keep the rival sides safely apart.

If 342 of the lower house’s 513 lawmakers vote in favor of the impeachment on Sunday, the proceedings move to the Senate, where a separate vote could suspend Rousseff and hand over the top job to Vice President Michel Temer, who Rousseff has blasted in recent days as being part of the push against her.

If lawmakers vote against impeachment, this bid to oust Rousseff would be dead and any subsequent process would have to start over.

Newspapers have been updating their tallies on an almost hourly basis. With the result appearing to hang on the votes of a couple dozen undecided lawmakers, it was too close to call.

Anti-government demonstrators gather outside Congress where lawmakers debate whether to oust the Brazil's President Dilma Rousseff in Brasilia, Brazil, on April 16, 2016. Sunday's vote will determine whether the impeachment proceeds to the Senate. Rousseff is accused of violating Brazil's fiscal laws to shore up public support amid a flagging economy. (AP Photo/Felipe Dana)
Anti-government demonstrators gather outside Congress where lawmakers debate whether to oust the Brazil's President Dilma Rousseff in Brasilia, Brazil, on April 16, 2016. Sunday's vote will determine whether the impeachment proceeds to the Senate. Rousseff is accused of violating Brazil's fiscal laws to shore up public support amid a flagging economy. AP Photo/Felipe Dana