House Speaker annuls presidential impeachment vote

In this May 6, 2016 photo, Brazil’s President Dilma Rousseff arrives to attends the ceremony of the Program My home, My life, at the Planalto Presidential Palace, in Brasilia, Brazil. The Senate's impeachment commission vote today on whether to recommend impeaching Rousseff, with the decisive vote by the full Senate slated for next Wednesday. (AP Photo/Eraldo Peres) (The Associated Press)

Brazil's President Dilma Rousseff attends a ceremony launching a new federal university program at Planalto presidential palace in Brasilia, Brazil, Monday, May 9, 2016, where someone in the audience holds up a poster that says in Portuguese: "Dilma stays!" The acting speaker of the lower house of Brazil's Congress on Monday annulled last month's vote on impeachment, delaying and complicating the process that was widely expected to see Rousseff suspended later this week. (AP Photo/Eraldo Peres) (The Associated Press)

Brazil's President Dilma Rousseff's cheek is covered by kiss, given to her as she entered an event where she announced a new federal university program at Planalto presidential palace in Brasilia, Brazil, Monday, May 9, 2016. The acting speaker of the lower house of Brazil's Congress on Monday annulled last month's vote on impeachment, delaying and complicating the process that was widely expected to see Rousseff suspended later this week. (AP Photo/Eraldo Peres) (The Associated Press)

The acting speaker of the lower house of Brazil's Congress has annulled last month's vote on impeachment, delaying the process against embattled President Dilma Rousseff.

A Senate vote on whether to accept the impeachment process had been scheduled for Wednesday. But Monday's request by Waldir Maranhao means the matter goes back to the Chamber of Deputies.

The reasoning for the decision was unclear.

The decision is a huge victory for Rousseff, who faced suspension from office had the Senate taken up the matter and ruled against her.