Brazil court rules against Rousseff, opens way for impeachment

[BRASILIA] Brazil's Federal Accounts Court on Wednesday rejected President Dilma Rousseff's handling of the government accounts last year, paving the way for the embattled leader's potential impeachment.

In a unanimous vote the court, known as TCU, ruled that Ms Rousseff committed a series of irregularities to cover a widening fiscal deficit last year. It is the first time the court has rejected the accounts of a head of state in nearly 80 years.

Although the ruling is not legally binding, it could be used by the opposition to build a case for Ms Rousseff's impeachment in a Congress increasingly hostile to the unpopular leftist.

REUTERS