AP Explains: Impeachment proceedings against Brazilian prez

Brazil's President Dilma Rousseff attends a meeting with Brazilian Ambassador Roberto Azevedo, director general of the World Trade Organization, at the Planalto Presidential Palace, in Brasilia, Tuesday, March 29, 2016. Former Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva said Monday that he believes Rousseff, his embattled successor and protege, can survive mounting pressure in Congress for her impeachment. Rousseff recently appointed Silva as her chief of staff in a much-discussed move that still must be confirmed by Brazil's top court. (AP Photo/Eraldo Peres) (The Associated Press)

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FILE - In this March 21, 2016 file photo, soldiers stand guard outside Planalto presidential palace where protesters have projected the word "Impeachment" on the building, as they call for the impeachment of Brazil's President Dilma Rousseff in Brasilia, Brazil. Rousseff is facing impeachment for alleged mismanagement of state funds. She's denied wrongdoing and claims the effort is a ‘coup’ against her government. The process has several stages and could drag on for months. (AP Photo/Eraldo Peres, File) (The Associated Press)

Brazilian Senator Aecio Neves, center left, shakes hands with Brazil'z Supreme Court Justice Gilmar Mendes at a legal conference in Lisbon, Thursday, March 31 2016. Neves, the leader of the Social Democracy Party who narrowly lost to Dilma Rousseff in a 2014 presidential runoff, says the Brazilian government "has lost its legitimacy, the ability to run the country." Besides Neves and Mendes, the conference included other participants seen as opponents of Rousseff. (AP Photo/Armando Franca) (The Associated Press)

SAO PAULO – Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff is facing possible impeachment by Congress. The effort comes amid an angry public mood over the South American nation's worst recession in decades and a big bribery scandal at the state oil company Petrobras, yet it is not tied to either of those.

WHAT IS ROUSSEFF ACCUSED OF DOING?

Rousseff is accused of breaking fiscal laws by shifting around government funds ahead of her 2014 re-election campaign. Opposition parties say sleight-of-hand accounting allowed her to boost public spending to shore up votes. Rousseff denies any wrongdoing, saying she didn't do anything that was not common practice in all prior administrations. She further argues that she isn't being accused of a crime, which should be the basis for any impeachment.

WHAT IS THE FIRST STEP OF IMPEACHMENT?

A special 65-member committee in the Chamber of Deputies will decide if the impeachment petition has a legal basis. With Brazil's corruption scandals in the background, observers note that 37 of the panel's members face charges for a wide variety of alleged crimes. The committee, which includes many of Rousseff's opponents, is expected to decide by mid-April in favor of bringing impeachment before the full house.

THEN WHAT HAPPENS?

The Chamber of Deputies will debate the matter. If at least 342 of the 513 legislators, or two-thirds, vote to impeach Rousseff, the case would move to the Senate. If a simple majority of senators then votes to consider impeachment, Rousseff would have to step aside, making Vice President Michel Temer acting president. If 54 of the Senate's 81 members then vote for impeachment, Rousseff would be forced from office and Temer would serve out her term, ending Dec. 31, 2018.

HOW DO ROUSSEFF'S SUPPORTERS AND DETRACTORS CHARACTERIZE THE SITUATION?

Government supporters call the impeachment push a coup, because Rousseff is not accused of any crime. They say Brazil's traditional ruling class has been unnerved by the social movement under Rousseff's Worker's Party over more than a decade in power and is seizing the opportunity to take back power. Opponents say the administration's maneuvering of funds was illegal and, just as importantly, attempted to mask problems in Latin America's largest economy, such as huge budget gaps that have surfaced over the last year. They say impeachment can't be considered a coup because it's allowed in the constitution.

WHO IN CONGRESS IS PUSHING FOR IMPEACHMENT?

Leading the charge is long-time Rousseff nemesis Eduardo Cunha, the speaker of the Chamber of Deputies who himself is accused of taking bribes in the Petrobras scandal; he denies wrongdoing. But congressmen from more than 10 parties, ranging from the centrist Brazilian Social Democracy Party to the conservative Democrats, support impeachment.

WHAT DOES FORMER PRESIDENT LUIZ INACIO LULA DA SILVA HAVE TO DO WITH ALL THIS?

Rousseff asked Silva, her predecessor and mentor, to use his skills as a negotiator to help her fend off impeachment. She appointed Silva as her chief of staff, a move that still must be confirmed by Brazil's top court. Government supporters say the appointment would help Rousseff stabilize a rocky political situation. Detractors say it's a naked attempt to sidetrack any prosecution of Silva, who was questioned in early March in the Petrobras probe. Cabinet members can only be investigated or tried with the permission of the Supreme Court. Silva has not been charged and denies any wrongdoing.