WASHINGTON (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 election. Rousseff was suspended from office for 180 days. Michel Temer, who had been Brazil's vice president since 2011, assumed presidency during that period.
“We will continue to work in close partnership with the Brazilian government to advance our common interests and responsibilities,” Babcock said on Thursday.
On Wednesday, Michel Temer, Brazil’s former vice president, was sworn into office as the country’s new leader after the Senate voted to impeach Rousseff. Upon taking office, Temer emphasized the importance of showing the world that Brazil is politically stable and legitimately governed.
Babcock noted that the Canadian government is “following the situation in Brazil closely.” As events unfold, the two countries will continue work on their “robust trade, investment, and educational ties,” environmental stewardship, and cooperation on the global refugee crisis, he added.
