‘My conscience is clear’: Brazil’s Rousseff faces senators, says accusations meritless

Fighting to save her job, suspended Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff told senators on Monday that the allegations against her have no merit and that history would judge the country if she is removed from office.

“I know I will be judged, but my conscience is clear. I did not commit a crime,” Rousseff told senators at her impeachment trial.

Rousseff reminded senators that she was re-elected in 2014 by more than 54 million voters. She said that at every moment she has followed the constitution and done what was best for the country.

“I can’t help but taste the bitterness of injustice” of this process, she said.

In the middle of her second term, the left-leaning leader is accused of breaking fiscal rules to hide problems in the federal budget. Brazil’s first female president denies wrongdoing and argues that her enemies are carrying out a “coup d’état”.

During her 30-minute speech, Rousseff argued that in early 2015 the opposition in Congress began creating a climate of instability by refusing to negotiate and throwing “fiscal bombs” in the face of declining revenues.