With impeachment looming and with her popularity dipping in her native Brazil, President Dilma Rousseff may be trying to change the tide by gathering international support.
Representatives from more than 150 countries met in a UN Assembly in New York on April 22 to pass the much awaited climate change agreement, but Rousseff took the time to appeal to her colleagues as she's about to be removed from her position.
"The grave moment Brazil is undergoing. Despite this, I must say that Brazil is a great nation, with a society that was able to defeat authoritarianism and build a vibrant democracy. Our people are hard-working and have great esteem for freedom. I have no doubt they will be able to prevent any setback," she reminded her colleagues while speaking in the podium.
The once-popular president of the Workers' Party is currently embroiled in a series of economic and political upheavals. Brazil is currently experiencing one of the worst recessions in its history with companies such as Deutsche Bank threatening massive job cuts. She has also figured herself in a bribery scandal involving Petrobras, the oil company owned by the state, although this accusation isn't the basis of her impeachment.
Various protests against her government and for her ouster had been held, culminating in more than two-thirds of the 513-member Chamber of Deputies or Lower House voting for her impeachment last April 17.
Rousseff, who had initially decided not to attend the UN Conference, has vowed to fight the process, which she described as a coup plot, with "all my strength. I am willing to fight to ensure that Brazil does not become a country where democratic rule is broken," she addressed a group of reporters in the ambassador's residence.
Attorney General Jose Eduardo Cardozo has already expressed disappointment over the impeachment, calling it illegal and unconstitutional. Rousseff's supporters and other political analysts were also doubtful of the motive behind the impeachment. Many of the Lower House members including the speaker have been involved in corruption charges.
Two deputies are in New York to counter her claims including dismissing the coup accusation as the "military is in the barrack" and that when she returns to Brazil, she'll remain its president.
Nevertheless, her impeachment forges on, with the Senate expecting to convene in May to vote in simple majority. If the impeachment trial happens, the president will be suspended for 180 days with Vice President Michel Temer, whom she has called a traitor, acting as president.
