The clock is ticking for Dilma Rousseff.
Brazil’s Senate is in session for a vote on whether or not to put the nation’s first female president on trial on charges of breaking budget laws.
Each senator who has registered to speak will be given 15 minutes to air their views. With more than 60 of the 81 senators taking up the offer, the session is expected to last around 15 hours.
If all goes to schedule, the day will be split into three segments: 9am to 12 noon (local time); 1pm to 6pm; and from 7pm until the end of the ballot.
If a simple majority of the senators present votes in favour of prosecution, Vice President Michel Temer will be named interim head of state for the length of the trial, which could take up to 180 days.
Senate President Renan Calheiros reminded those assembled of what they were voting on.
“There is only one question. Is there any evidence that a crime of responsibility has been committed by the President of the Republic, that would justify opening the