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Brazil impeaches President Dilma Rousseff ahead of Rio Olympics

The Brazil Senate voted on Thursday to impeach President Dilma Rousseff just three months before the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro are set to begin.
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The Brazil Senate voted on Thursday to impeach President Dilma Rousseff just three months before the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro are set to begin, the Associated Press reports.

The impeachment was passed on a 55–22 vote, and leaves Vice President Michel Temer in line to assume the duties of acting president. A trial will be held over the next six months to determine whether Rousseff will be removed from office permanently.

Brazil’s first female president, Rousseff was impeached as a result of her allegedly hiding evidence of deficits within the federal budget. The decision to impeach her was accompanied by months of displeasure from the Brazilian people with government corruption and the sluggish economy.

Following her impeachment, Rousseff urged Brazilians to “mobilize” against what she is calling a coup d’etat against her.

Doctor: Brazil’s Olympics must not proceed due to Zika | Zika, explained

The Rio Olympics are set to begin in August, and the removal of Brazil’s president is just the latest ruffle in a string of concerns over the Games being held there. The outbreak of the Zika virus, which is carried by mosquitoes and can cause birth defects in newborns, has prompted athletes to consider not traveling to Rio. Polluted water, security concerns and political turmoil have all raised questions about Brazil’s capability to successfully host the Games.