By Senabri Silvestre
SANTO DOMINGO, Dom. Rep. (AA) – The president of El Salvador has said his country will not recognize Brazil’s interim government after it suspended Dilma Rousseff as its head of state.
Salvador Sanchez Cenen said Brazil’s Senate affected a coup against Rousseff by removing her from office for six month, as she faces a political trial.
“Rousseff was elected by the people and we are respectful of democracy and the popular will,” he said in tweets, adding that the suspension amounted to “political manipulation”.
The installation of Michel Temer as the new leader of Brazil is reminiscent of that country’s history with a military coup, according to Sanchez Cenen, who recalled El Salvador’s ambassador to Brazil.
Similar reactions to Rousseff’s suspension have been expressed by others regional leaders. Ernesto Samper, the head of the Union of South American Nations, or UNASUR, said Thursday that Rousseff remains “the legitimate leader” of the Brazilian and he fears instability in Brazil may “move the region in a dangerous manner”.
The governments of Bolivia, Cuba and Paraguay have also voiced support for Rousseff.
Venezuela recalled its ambassador to Brazil and, the head of the United Nations, Ban Ki-moon, has urged “calm and dialogue,” according to his spokesman.
Rousseff faces a trial for “crimes of responsibility” after being accused of violating fiscal rules to hide a budget deficit ahead of the 2014 presidential elections.
