MOSCOW (Sputnik) — In May, the upper house of the Brazilian parliament voted 55-22 to start impeachment proceedings against Rousseff after she was accused of concealing the country’s budget deficit ahead of the 2014 re-election.
"We need to strengthen democracy in our country, and for this, the Senate needs to shut down the process of impeachment currently underway recognizing the face of irrefutable evidence… I am innocent," Rousseff’s letter published Tuesday reads.
Rousseff added that she would unequivocally stand by calling a national referendum to decide whether to hold early direct elections, which are necessary to solve political and economic crises in Brazil in her opinion.
Rousseff, who regards the impeachment proceedings as a coup attempt, has been suspended from office for 180 days, pending trial. Vice President Michel Temer is assuming presidency during that period.
