The Economist has been following Brazil's economic fortune over the years. Things looked much more optimistic for the country in 2009 than they do now - as a round-up of the magazine's front covers, tweeted by Al Jazeera's Gabriel Elizondo, shows.

Brazil was once lauded as one of the fast-growing BRIC developing markets (the other three being Russia, India and China) but the country suffered a disastrous year in 2015, when inflation rose to double figures and millions of jobs were lost.

Up to now, Brazil's faltering economy was the main threat to Ms Rousseff's presidency.

Image source, Twitter

Supporters and opponents of President Rousseff have been following each and every vote. But the tension has been getting to some. 

Image source, AP

Image source, Reuters

There are now 171 votes in favour of impeachment. That is half the 342 that are needed for the impeachment process to go to the next stage. 

But the matter is not decided yet - 296 MPs have yet to vote.

How did Dilma Rousseff, who once enjoyed approval ratings of almost 80%, find herself facing an impeachment vote? 

The BBC's Daniel Gallas explains she is accused of using creative accounting techniques ahead of her re-election in 2014.

Ms Rousseff has always said she did not act criminally and accuses the opposition of trying to remove her from office in what they call a "coup".

How did it all go wrong for Dilma Rousseff?

The current tally is 155 in favour of the impeachment proceedings, 42 against. Three MPs have abstained. 

The number of lawmakers who have cast their votes has risen to 175. Of those, 137 voted "yes", 35 voted "no" and three abstained.

Image source, BBC World

The BBC's Daniel Gallas in Sao Paulo tells the BBC World News channel:

So far the government is losing by a fairly big margin but there are still many MPs to vote. 

The whole country is gripped watching this. All the TV stations have cancelled their normal programming, they're just broadcasting this vote live.

Whoever wins this vote, the political crisis will not go away. The president, whoever it is, will still need Congress to approve its laws and Congress is very divided.

People in Brazil have been tweeting about how they think the country's Congress should vote, and about what they think of the proceedings.

It's incredible how people who are in favour of impeachment think Brazil won't have any more problems in health, education etc if Dilma leaves.

I'm proud of Brazil so far. My vote is YES because of the symbolic hope that this represents.

IT WON'T BE A COUP! IT WILL BE AN IMPEACHMENT!!!!!!!!

Did anyone who's speaking "for God" ask God whether he's in favour of impeachment?

Opponents of Ms Rousseff have been able to cheer more often than the president's supporters. But remember that they need a two-thirds majority in order for the impeachment to proceed. 

Image source, Getty Images

Supporters of Ms Rousseff have been cheering each and every vote against her impeachment. So far, they have had reason to cheer 28 times. 

Image source, AP

Image source, AP

This is not the first time that Brazil has moved to impeach a president. Twenty-four years ago, in 1992, Fernando Collor de Mello was barred from holding elected office for eight years after the Senate found him guilty of corruption.

Mr Collor de Mello resigned but the trial went ahead anyway.

He was later acquitted of criminal charges.

Brazilians across the country are following the vote closely such as this woman in Belo Horizonte.

Image source, AFP

In order for the impeachment proceedings to go ahead, two thirds of the lower house have to vote in favour. That is 342. If 342 are not reached, the impeachment proceedings will be shelved. 

After 100 MPs have cast their votes, the "yes" vote continues in the lead. Seventy-three MPs have voted in favour, 24 against. Three MPs have abstained. 

Members of Ms Rousseff's Workers' Party say the impeachment proceedings are a "coup" not just against Ms Rousseff but against the constitution.

The Brazilian newspaper O Globo, external is running a live page that compares politicians' votes with how they said they would vote.

So far, it is showing six Congresspeople who either made up their minds or abstained.

Twenty-five thousand pro- and anti-government protesters have gathered outside the Congress building in Brasilia, according to police figures. 

People in Sao Paulo have gathered to follow the vote from Avenida Paulista, one of the most famous and important avenues in the city.

Sixty MPs have voted. One abstained, 46 voted for the impeachment proceedings to go ahead, and 13 voted against.