The GPM Global Forecast is a bi-weekly, members-only article series for 2016. It provides analysis and short-term forecasting on key military, political, and economic events around the globe. 

Rousseff Impeachment Goes Ahead in Brazil

Last week, Brazil’s Senate voted to suspend President Dilma Rousseff and put her on trial by a margin of 55-22. The charges pertain to the alleged manipulation of economic numbers by Rousseff ahead of 2014 presidential elections. To be fair, the sleight – which attempted to minimize the country’s widening deficit – could hardly be considered anything out of the ordinary in Brazilian politics.

After a failed last-ditch effort by the Rousseff administration to overturn the decision via the Supreme Court, the impeachment trial will now go forward. The trial could last anywhere up to half a year, which would take it through the Rio Olympic Games scheduled to begin on August 5.