Rousseff impeachment vote back on track in Brazil

BRASILIA, Brazil, May 10 (UPI) -- A Senate vote on the possible impeachment of Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff is back on track Tuesday after a lawmaker reversed his decision to annul an earlier vote moving the process forward.

Waldir Maranhao, the acting speaker in Brazil's Chamber of Deputies, on Monday annulled the April 17 vote that sent the impeachment process up to the Senate. The upper chamber was scheduled to begin voting on Wednesday on whether an impeachment trial should proceed against Rousseff.

Maranhao was ridiculed and threatened with expulsion from his Progressive Party shortly after announcing his annulment intent.

Senate President Renan Calheiros said the chamber was committed to holding the vote despite Maranhao's decision. Maranhao did not provide a reason as to why he abandoned the annulment.

Rousseff faces corruption allegations and a simple majority vote in the Senate to initiate an impeachment trial would suspend her for 180 days. Vice President Michel Temer would serve as interim president.

Previously, Maranhao said he annulled the vote because Chamber of Deputies members should not have announced their position on impeachment prior to the vote, also adding that party leaders should not have instructed members on how to vote.

Maranhao last week was appointed as acting speaker after Eduardo Cuhna, the Brazilian political leader who began the impeachment process against Rousseff, was suspended by the Supreme Court.