Brazil court gives another 15 days for Rousseff to explain accounts

Brazil's President Dilma Rousseff reacts during a conference with representatives from workers' unions and social movements, in Brasilia August 13, 2015. REUTERS/Ueslei Marcelino

BRASILIA (Reuters) - Brazil's highest accounting court gave another 15 days for President Dilma Rousseff to respond to accusations she doctored the government accounts last year to hide the deterioration of the country's finances. Judges of the Federal Accounts Court, known as the TCU, decided on Wednesday to give Rousseff more time in a case that her opponents believe could pave the way for her impeachment. Rousseff had already been granted 15 days on Aug 12 to respond to new findings made by court officials. A TCU prosecutor's allegation that Rousseff delayed 40 billion reais ($11.50 billion) in social payments to artificially bolster fiscal accounts is considered the main argument for a possible rejection of her handling of the fiscal accounts last year, legal experts say. A rejection could serve as the legal basis for the opposition to request Rousseff's impeachment for violating the fiscal responsibility law, legal experts say. (Reporting by Alonso Soto; Editing by Leslie Adler)