Brazil’s leader, Rousseff, vows to fight on

Brazil’s beleaguered President Dilma Rousseff has told the BBC she is an “innocent victim” and she will fight on as possible impeachment looms.

She vowed to “keep fighting… to come back to government if the impeachment request is accepted”.

Rousseff is accused of manipulating government accounts, which she denies.

The Senate will decide whether to start an impeachment trial next week. If that happens, she will be suspended from office for 180 days.

Recent polls conducted by Brazil’s major newspapers suggest that a majority of the 81 senators will vote in favour of the trial.

In the wide-ranging interview with the BBC, President Rousseff also said: “Yes, I believe, indeed, that I am a victim. And, of course, yes I am innocent. And at the same time, I am an innocent victim,” Rousseff said.

“What we in the government believe and what my supporters believe is that the ongoing impeachment process is illegitimate and illegal.

“Because it is ultimately based on a lie, that is, an indirect election under the guise of an impeachment process.”

And the president stressed: “What we will do is to resist, to resist, and to resist. And further fight to ensure that we will come out victorious on a merit basis and resume office.”