Brazil’s ousted president blasts process, talks about future

BRASILIA, Brazil – Former President Dilma Rousseff on Friday slammed the process that led to her ouster this week, promising to provide a strong opposition voice to the new government.

In comments to foreign media, Rousseff said next week she would be moving back to her hometown of Porto Alegre in southern Brazil. She has 30 days to vacate the presidential palace.

On Wednesday, the Senate voted to remove Rousseff for breaking fiscal responsibility laws in her management of the federal budget. Brazil’s first female president denies wrongdoing, and has frequently pointed out that previous presidents have used similar accounting measures.

Rousseff said she had not developed long-term plans for what comes next, but won’t shy away from public life.

“I don’t have political plans for office, but I do have political plans. I’m going to oppose this government,” she said.

Rousseff also had sharp words for Michel Temer, who was her vice-president before taking over in the wake of her removal. The two were allies who turned into enemies, with Rousseff accusing Temer of being the ringleader behind her ouster.

She said that if he doesn’t govern on the platform the two ran on in 2010 and 2014, people will see his government as illegitimate.

Rousseff also said she would be quick to raise her voice if Temer’s government tries to crackdown on protesters. Since her ouster, a handful of small anti-Temer demonstrations have been broken up by police.

On Thursday, Rousseff appealed her removal from office to the country’s highest court. It’s unclear when the court will rule, but several appeals during the months-long impeachment process were rejected.