Brazilian president receives more support against impeachment

Several prominent artists and intellectuals who oppose the impeachment proceedings against Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff publicly voiced support for her on Thursday.

They did that during a ceremony held at the government's headquarters in Brasilia, reports said.

Some of them, like actress Leticia Sabatella, said even though they do not approve Rousseff's administration, they believe the opposition is staging a coup to take her down. Rousseff thanked them.

Calls to impeach Rousseff first broke out last year after she was accused of manipulating government accounts to hide the depth of Brazil's recession.

On March 17, lawmakers launched an impeachment commission, which is expected to begin deliberations next Tuesday before making a recommendation in mid-April.

The president has repeatedly said that the fiscal manipulations she is accused of are common practice in the country and previous federal administrations resorted to them as well.

"Impeaching me based on the fiscal maneuvers would mean that all governments before me should have been impeached as well, as they all, without exception, practiced the same acts and always followed the law," she said.

Rousseff sees the entire impeachment process as an attempt to make a soft coup in the country.

Tens of thousands of Brazilians waving the red flags of the ruling Workers' Party took to streets across the country Thursday to protest against the impeachment. Endi