Story highlights
- Brazil's first female president: "Strong component" of sexism in impeachment battle
- Impeachment motion against President Dilma Rousseff now goes to Senate
- Rousseff is accused of breaking budgetary laws to cover shortfall in Brazil's deficit
(CNN)Reiterating she is a victim of an attempted coup, Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff on Tuesday defended fiscal practices that her critics say should get her impeached.
And, prompted by a reporter's question, the country's first female president said a "strong component" of sexism was behind efforts to oust her.
There's a belief some have, Rousseff said, that "women must be nervous, feel pressure."
"I am not this way. I'm not nervous. I'm not hysterical."
Rousseff is accused of breaking budgetary laws by borrowing from state banks to cover a shortfall in Brazil's deficit and pay for popular social programs. She repeatedly stressed those practices were common in her country.
Photos: Protests in impeachment battle against President Dilma Rousseff
Photos: Protests in impeachment battle against President Dilma Rousseff
Brazilian lawmakers shouted, scuffled and even sang as they debated whether to impeach President Dilma Rousseff on Sunday. Over a period of six hours they eventually voted 367-137 to impeach the president.
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Photos: Protests in impeachment battle against President Dilma Rousseff
Deputies of the Lower House of Congress exchange words during the vote. After the success of the motion to impeach, it will be considered by the parliament's upper house.
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Photos: Protests in impeachment battle against President Dilma Rousseff
A total of 367 lawmakers in the lower house voted to impeach Rousseff, the country's first female president, by more than the two-thirds majority required by law.
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Photos: Protests in impeachment battle against President Dilma Rousseff
The impeachment motion will next go to the country's Senate. If a majority approves it, Rousseff will have to step down for 180 days to defend herself in an impeachment trial.
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Photos: Protests in impeachment battle against President Dilma Rousseff
Pro-impeachment supporters watch a live television broadcast as Lower House Speaker Eduardo Cunha, himself under corruption investigation, speaks as deputies prepare to cast their votes in the impeachment process.
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Photos: Protests in impeachment battle against President Dilma Rousseff
As lawmakers spoke their minds on the floor of Congress, throngs of demonstrators waited for word of the results.
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Photos: Protests in impeachment battle against President Dilma Rousseff
Protesters opposed to the impeachment react as they watch the voting session on television in Sao Paulo, Brazil.
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Photos: Protests in impeachment battle against President Dilma Rousseff
A pro-impeachment supporter kisses a Brazilian flag while watching a live television broadcast moments after lower house deputies vote to approve the motion to continue the impeachment process.
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Photos: Protests in impeachment battle against President Dilma Rousseff
Brazilian flags hang from apartments during demonstrations on the day of voting.
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Photos: Protests in impeachment battle against President Dilma Rousseff
Pro-impeachment supporters celebrate after politicians vote to approve the motion to impeach Rousseff. The motion will now be brought before the Senate, the Brazilian congress' upper house.
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Photos: Protests in impeachment battle against President Dilma Rousseff
Protesters in Sao Paolo, opposed to the impeachment, watch the voting session on television en masse.
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The Folha de Sao Paulo newspaper conducted an analysis and, citing figures from the country's Central Bank, alleged that Rousseff took the practice much further than her predecessors.
Rousseff said her political opponents who crave power are driving attacks against her.
An impeachment motion, which Brazil's lower house of Congress approved Sunday, will go to the Senate. If a majority approves it there, Rousseff will have to step down for 180 days to defend herself in an impeachment trial. She could be suspended as early as May, three months before the Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro start.
"There is no legal basis for that impeachment," she said, adding, "There is no evidence of corruption against me."
She called herself the "victim of half-truths."
Glenn Greenwald: Impeachment 'anti-democratic' 09:27
"I will fight, like I have always done in my life. ... I am sure that we will have the opportunity to defend ourselves in the Senate," she told reporters.
Her tone was the same Tuesday.
"I want to let you know when you are suffering an injustice or a coup like this you have several options," she said. "When you have dignity, the only way out is to resist."
Rousseff was tortured during the country's military dictatorship.
She has been asked if her struggle from that time is comparable to what she's going through now, she said.
There was "no way," she said, to compare the experiences.
