PPP condemns Dilma Rousseff’s removal

In light of the recent decision by Brazil’s Senate to vote in favour of removing Brazil’s President Dilma Rousseff from office, the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) has voiced its disdain for the impeachment.

“The PPP condemns the impeachment of former President of Brazil Dilma Rousseff by the parliamentary Opposition,” the Party noted in a press statement on Saturday.

Rousseff was ousted for supposedly manipulating the country’s budget and was removed after 13 years in office. The PPP pointed out that her removal is “tantamount to a mockery of the democratic process” in Brazil as Rousseff had been elected to office by a majority of the Brazilian people.

“The removal of the former President is nothing short of a parliamentary and judicial coup against the former President and her Workers’ Party which over the years have transformed the economy to a global economic powerhouse and which lifted millions of Brazilians out of the poverty threshold,” the PPP stated on Saturday, adding its concern over moves in neighbouring Venezuela to shorten the reign of President Nicolás Maduro.

“The removal of Ms Rousseff raises some serious question regarding the role played by reactionary forces in the removal of governments which are perceived to be on the left of the ideological spectrum, especially when seen against the backdrop of ongoing attempts by forces hostile to President Maduro in Venezuela to remove him from power before the constitutionally due date,” the PPP pointed out.

Bringing the issue closer to home, the Party referenced moves by international players in its early removal from office which greatly impacted upon Guyana’s future: “The PPP recalls its own experience in the early 1960’s when foreign vested interests in collaboration with local reactionary forces conspired to remove the democratically elected PPP Government from office with devastating consequences for the political, economic and social life of the country.”

“The situation in Brazil represented a case where a ‘technical’ argument was advanced by the political Opposition to derail the democratic process which is clear violation of the expressed will of the Brazilian people who voted for her in democratic elections,” the PPP expressed.

In this regard, the PPP says it joins with all progressive forces in extending solidarity with the former President and the Workers’ Party of Brazil on what could only be described as “a rape of democracy” in the country.

The PPP stated that it is calling on the international community to unite and take note of the “unfortunate development” which it reiterated was an “assault on democracy in Brazil.”

Rosseuff who had represented the left-leaning Workers’ Party has continued to deny the accusation against her which stated that under watch, funds were moved “between Government budgets,” a crime under Brazilian law.

Some 61 Brazilian senators voted in favour to remove her from office, whereas only 20 voted against the measure. After she was suspended, an interim leader, Michel Temer had assumed office but has since been sworn in as President of the neighbouring republic.

Reports stated that he will lead the country until January 1, 2019 when Rousseff’s term would have ended.