The Dilma impeachment, a pivotal event that shook Brazil in 2016, continues to resonate in the country’s political landscape.
This Dica explores the events leading up to the impeachment of Dilma Rousseff, the country’s first female president, delving into questions like “Why was Dilma impeached?” and examining the tumultuous Brazil impeachment process, its causes, and its lasting consequences for Brazilian politics and society, both then and now.
Table of contents
A nation on edge
The Brazilian political consciousness was resuscitated with the 20 cents movement in 2013, to which some important figures, including Arnold Schwarzenegger, and Mark Zuckerberg among others offered their support, both on X (old Twitter) and using the hashtag #changebrazil.

An outcome of this awakening, which was supposedly about the prices of public transportation in the country was that public awareness increased rapidly and snowballed into a political bomb that landed right in the government’s lap.
The “20 cents movement” was just the beginning. Brazil was heading towards a deep economic recession. The economy, once booming, had fallen into a downturn and inflation was on the rise.
This economic hardship, coupled with the massive Petrobras scandal, also known as “Operação Lava-Jato” (Operation Car Wash), which exposed a colossal corruption scheme involving the state-owned oil company, politicians, and prominent businesses, fueled widespread public anger and frustration.
These factors set the stage for the protests that would intensify in 2014, during the FIFA World Cup, further increasing the pressure on Rousseff’s government.
Why was Dilma impeached????
The Dilma impeachment process began in December 2015. The main charges against her centered on the alleged use of funds from state-owned banks to cover budget shortfalls, known as “fiscal pedaling” (“pedaladas fiscais”), and the issuance of unauthorized spending decrees.
Rousseff’s opponents argued that these actions constituted “crimes of responsibility” (“crimes de responsabilidade”) and violated fiscal responsibility laws.
They claimed that the impeachment in Brazil, a legal mechanism enshrined in the constitution, was necessary to hold Rousseff accountable for her actions.
Dilma vehemently denied any wrongdoing, maintaining that these practices were used by previous administrations and that she was a victim of a political witch hunt.

Brazil’s impeachment proceedings moved through Legislative bodies. First, the Chamber of Deputies voted to impeach Rousseff, and then the case went to the Senate for trial. The Senate voted to suspend Rousseff from office, and Vice President Michel Temer assumed the presidency in the interim.
Finally, in August 2016, the Senate convicted Rousseff, officially removing her from office. This decision marked a turning point in Brazilian politics, initiating a new chapter in the country’s political journey.
Brazil, a two side nation
The Brazilian president was impeached, leaving the nation deeply divided. The ones who are now considered left-wing believed that the impeachment of the Brazilian president was unjust and politically motivated, while those on the right felt it was a necessary step to address corruption and economic mismanagement.
As an outcome, half of the population wanted the Brazilian president impeached, and the other half was supporting Dilma.
With a political motion filed in the Brazilian constitution and accepted by the House of Representatives, which was presided over by Eduardo Cunha, Dilma was impeached.
Some argued that the impeached Brazilian president was targeted unfairly, while others maintained that the impeachment of Dilma Rousseff was essential for upholding the rule of law.
This was completely different from the previous Brazilian president impeached, Collor de Melo, who had total disapproval of the population. Dilma still has many believers, especially due to, at the time, the former president Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva.
The aftermath: Brazil’s political landscape transformed
The Dilma impeachment marked a significant turning point in the country’s political landscape.
With Rousseff’s removal, her vice president, Michel Temer, a conservative politician, assumed the presidency. Temer’s government implemented austerity measures and reversed many of Rousseff’s social policies.

The Brazil impeachment also brought more light to political polarization, with a surge in support for conservative politicians, ultimately leading to the election of Jair Bolsonaro as president in 2018.
Bolsonaro’s victory represented a dramatic shift to the right, driven in part by the political climate created in the wake of the impeachment.
The Dilma impeachment also had a profound impact on Brazilian society. Temer’s austerity measures disproportionately affected the poor and working class, exacerbating social inequalities.
The impeachment incited a climate of political intolerance and division as well, creating a more polarized and fractured society.
Dilma Rousseff today: After the impeachment
Today, the debate about whether Rousseff’s removal was a legitimate act or a politically motivated coup continues to divide Brazilians.
With the return of Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva to the presidency in 2022, the political pendulum has swung back towards the left.
Dilma Rousseff has also returned to a position of influence. She was appointed by Lula as the new president of the New Development Bank (NDB), also known as the BRICS Bank, in 2023.

This appointment is a testament to Rousseff’s resilience and her continued commitment to promoting development and economic cooperation among emerging nations.
The Dilma impeachment remains a pivotal moment in the country’s history, shaping the political and social landscape for years to come.
See you next Dica!
Vocabulary
| Cenário político | Political landscape |
| Impeachment | Impeachment |
| Consciência política | Political consciousness |
| Revolta dos 20 centavos | 20 cents movement |
| Conscientização do povo | Public awareness |
| A economia | The economy |
| Operação Lava-Jato | Operation Car Wash |
| Governo | Government |
| Défices orçamentais | Budget shortfalls |
| Constituição | Constitution |
| Câmara dos Deputados | Chamber of Deputies |
| Senado | Senate |
| Ponto de virada | Turning point |
| Manobra política | Political motion |
| Ex-presidente | Former president |
| Medidas de austeridade | Austerity measures |
| Polarização política | Political polarization |
| Ato legítimo | Legitimate act |
| Novo Banco de Desenvolvimento | New Development Bank |
| Nações emergentes | Emerging nations |
| Momento crucial | Pivotal moment |
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