Rousseff proclaimed her innocence at her impeachment trial that started on Monday, while branding her vice president a "usurper."

The president also reiterated the claim that the drive to oust her was a "coup," warning senators that history would "judge them harshly if they oust a democratically elected leader on false charges."

After 12 hours, she was still answering questions from senators late Monday night.

"I know I will be judged, but my conscience is clear. I did not commit a crime," Rousseff said.

"I can't help but taste the bitterness of injustice," she added.

During her 30-minute opening speech, Rousseff argued that in early 2015 opposition lawmakers began creating a climate of instability by refusing to negotiate and throwing what she called "fiscal bombs" in the face of the government's declining revenues as the once booming economy continued its slump.

Referring to Temer, Rousseff said Brazilians would never have elected a man who named a Cabinet of all white men in a country that is more than 50 percent non-white.

"I ask that you be just with an honest president," she said, her voice cracking with emotion.

She reminded the Senate that 54 million Brazilians voted to re-elect her in 2014 and said a vote for impeachment could negatively impact 13 years of social advances.

Rousseff made several references to her personal struggles, including mentioning being tortured during Brazil's military dictatorship and her fight with cancer.

"Today I only fear for the death of democracy for which many of us here in this chamber fought," she said.

(DW)