Brazil's Senate to analyze report favoring impeachment against Rousseff

Brazil's Senate on Tuesday began to analyze a report which favors the impeachment of suspended President Dilma Rousseff for alleged fiscal irregularities.

If the report is approved, Rousseff will be removed from the presidency at the end of August.

Tuesday's session was headed by Ricardo Lewandowski, president of the Supreme Court and it should last approximately 20 hours.

Before handing over the reigns to Lewandowski in the plenary, Senate President Renan Calheiros asked his colleagues to reflect on "the seriousness of the decision they will make."

"Let us make a decision, as soon as possible, stripped of our political-partisan convictions and filled with the responsibility which comes with the role of being judges, bestowed on us by the federal constitution," said Calheiros.

Lewandowski said that his role will only be to coordinate and that for that reason, he will not be able to intervene in the discussions "or give opinions or value judgment on merit."

After the formal opening, the report from Senator Antonio Anastasia was read and each senator will have 10 minutes to talk.

The report proposed proceeding with the definitive dismissal of the president, who is accused of "infringing upon the constitution" through irregularities in fiscal management.

All the votes are expected to be cast during the early hours of Wednesday.

For the process to progress, the report will have to be approved by a simple majority out of the 81 senators and after this, the impeachment process will enter into its final phase, which is set to take place at the end of the month.

Rousseff was provisionally removed from office on May 12 for 180 days and Vice President Michel Temer stayed in her place on an interim basis.

If Rousseff is dismissed, Temer will complete the mandate until the end of 2018 and Rousseff will be unable to hold another position in the civil service for eight years. Endit