巴西总统罗塞夫弹劾受阻

AS IT IS 2016-05-10 Surprise Move Holds Off Rousseff Impeachment¹ 巴西总统罗塞夫弹劾受阻

In a surprise move, the acting³ speaker of Brazil’s lower chamber⁴ of Congress called for a new vote in the impeachment process against President Dilma Rousseff.

Waldir Maranhao is the Acting Speaker of the Chamber of Deputies. He said there were problems with the way the lower chamber voted to impeach² Rousseff on April 17.

The announcement came just days before the Senate was expected to approve putting Rousseff on trial. If that happens, she would immediately be suspended from her job for up to six months.

This move means the process will go back to the lower chamber. It could delay the process by days or weeks.

Brazil’s business markets reacted to the news by dropping in value. The currency weakened as much as 5 percent, and stocks fell quickly.

Reuters News Agency reports the markets view the decision as decreasing the chances of a new business-friendly government.

Rousseff is fighting charges that her government broke fiscal⁵, or financial, rules.

In last month’s lower house vote, Maranhao voted against the impeachment process. He took over as acting speaker when Speaker Eduardo Cunha was removed from office on corruption⁶ charges. Cunha had started the impeachment process against Rousseff.

In a news release, Maranhao said the impeachment process should be sent back from the Senate, so the House chamber can vote again. He said the vote should happen quickly — within five sessions of the chamber after the case is returned.

It is unclear whether the Supreme⁷ Court, the Senate, or a majority in the House can overrule Maranhao’s decision.

Speaking at an event in the presidential palace, Rousseff was surprised to learn the news of the temporary annulment⁸.

Rousseff said the impeachment process has been suspended. But she warned cheering supporters:

"It is not official, and I don't know the consequences, so let's be cautious."

Rousseff has denied any wrongdoing. She has said she would fight it by all legal ways possible. What was not clear is whether she knew that Monday’s announcement was in the works.

The impeachment comes as Brazil is dealing⁹ with a recession, a corruption investigation¹⁰ of top politicians and businessmen, and an outbreak of the Zika virus. The country is set to host the Olympics in August.

Words in This Story

impeachment – n. criminal charges against a public official when in office

annulment – n. the act of saying officially that something is no longer valid¹¹

cautious – adj. careful about avoiding risk or danger

in the works - phrase.  something is being planned, being worked on

1 impeachment   

n.弹劾；控告；怀疑

参考例句：

• Impeachment is considered a drastic measure in the United States.在美国，弹劾被视为一种非常激烈的措施。
• The verdict resulting from his impeachment destroyed his political career.他遭弹劾后得到的判决毁了他的政治生涯。

2 impeach   

v.弹劾；检举

参考例句：

• We must impeach the judge for taking bribes.我们一定要检举法官收受贿赂。
• The committee decided to impeach the President.委员会决定弹劾总统。

3 acting   

n.演戏，行为，假装；adj.代理的，临时的，演出用的

参考例句：

• Ignore her,she's just acting.别理她，她只是假装的。
• During the seventies,her acting career was in eclipse.在七十年代，她的表演生涯黯然失色。

4 chamber   

n.房间，寝室；会议厅；议院；会所

参考例句：

• For many,the dentist's surgery remains a torture chamber.对许多人来说，牙医的治疗室一直是间受刑室。
• The chamber was ablaze with light.会议厅里灯火辉煌。

5 fiscal   

adj.财政的，会计的，国库的，国库岁入的

参考例句：

• The increase of taxation is an important fiscal policy.增税是一项重要的财政政策。
• The government has two basic strategies of fiscal policy available.政府有两个可行的财政政策基本战略。

6 corruption   

n.腐败，堕落，贪污

参考例句：

• The people asked the government to hit out against corruption and theft.人民要求政府严惩贪污盗窃。
• The old man reviled against corruption.那老人痛斥了贪污舞弊。

7 supreme   

adj.极度的，最重要的；至高的，最高的

参考例句：

• It was the supreme moment in his life.那是他一生中最重要的时刻。
• He handed up the indictment to the supreme court.他把起诉书送交最高法院。

8 annulment   

n.废除，取消，（法院对婚姻等）判决无效

参考例句：

• The annulment caused a profound impression in Japan. 同盟的废止，在日本发生了强烈的反响。 来自辞典例句
• Law An annulment acquittal; dismissal, of a court order. 取消，宣告无罪；法院命令的撤销。 来自互联网

9 dealing   

n.经商方法，待人态度

参考例句：

• This store has an excellent reputation for fair dealing.该商店因买卖公道而享有极高的声誉。
• His fair dealing earned our confidence.他的诚实的行为获得我们的信任。

10 investigation   

n.调查，调查研究

参考例句：

• In an investigation,a new fact became known, which told against him.在调查中新发现了一件对他不利的事实。
• He drew the conclusion by building on his own investigation.他根据自己的调查研究作出结论。

11 valid   

adj.有确实根据的；有效的；正当的，合法的

参考例句：

• His claim to own the house is valid.他主张对此屋的所有权有效。
• Do you have valid reasons for your absence?你的缺席有正当理由吗？