Brazil’s Senate gave the final approval for an impeachment trial against suspended President Dilma Rousseff on Wednesday, bringing closer her possible dismissal on charges of manipulating government accounts.
After a marathon session lasting nearly 17 hours, the motion was carried with 59 votes in favour and 21 against.
The lawmakers were voting after a Senate special commission last week also gave the green light for a trial.
Deliberations on Rousseff’s fate are due to begin between Aug. 25 and 29 after the end of the Rio Olympics with a vote taking place by Sept. 2.
A two-thirds majority is then needed in the final vote to impeach her.
Rousseff was suspended from office on May 12, charged with manipulating government accounts to obscure the country’s economic situation during her 2014 re-election campaign.
She rejects that charge and has called the suspension a “coup.”
Michel Temer, the country’s vice president, was made interim president for 180 days after Rouseff’s suspension in May.
He was booed by locals during the Olympics opening ceremony in Maracana stadium.
If Rousseff is dismissed next month, Temer could stay in office until elections scheduled for 2018.
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