Brazil Lawyers Group Launches New Push to Oust President Dilma Rousseff

Rousseff could now face two proceedings seeking her ouster.

Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff’s woes deepened as an influential lawyers association filed a new petition for her impeachment on Monday, a day ahead of a vote that could break up her ruling coalition.

Brazil’s largest political party, the Brazilian Democratic Movement Party or PMDB, voted Tuesday to end its formal six-year governing alliance with Ms. Rousseff’s Workers’ Party, or PT. The defection of the PMDB will make it more difficult for the embattled leader to stop impeachment proceedings against her and badly weaken Ms. Rousseff’s already shaky support in Congress, reducing the likelihood that she can persuade enough lawmakers to derail impeachment proceedings against her.

Ms. Rousseff is accused of manipulating public accounts to mask a growing budget deficit, allegations that she denies. The lower house launched the proceedings in December and the process is now on a fast track, with momentum gaining strength in recent weeks as a separate corruption scandal rocks the government.

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