Summary

  • Brazil's lower house approves impeachment proceedings against President Rousseff

  • Opponents secure the required two-thirds majority after a marathon voting session

  • Rousseff's opponents celebrate the result across the country

  • The Senate will now vote on whether to launch an impeachment trial

  • Ms Rousseff is accused of manipulating government accounts

  • She denies the claims and accuses opponents of mounting a "coup"

Live Reporting

Nalina Eggert

  1. The rise and fall of Brazil's economy

    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.

    magazine covers through timeTwitter

  2. Tension of vote too much for some

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

    A pro-government demonstrator cries as she watches the vote count on a screen, as lawmakers vote on whether or not to impeach President Dilma Rousseff, in Brasilia.AP
    Brazilians in favor of the impeachment of President Dilma Rousseff react while watching the televised voting of the Lower House of Congress over her impeachment in Brasilia, Brazil April 17, 2016Reuters

  3. Halfway to a 'yes' vote

    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.

  4. What's this vote about?

    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?

  5. Two-hundred lawmakers have voted

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

  6. 'Yes' vote continues to gain

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

  7. 'Whole country is gripped'

    Daniel Gallas reporting from Sao PauloBBC 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.

  8. Brazil tweets for and against

    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?

  9. Passionate opposition

    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. 

    A pro-impeachment supporter dressed with Brazilian national colors cheers as a "Yes" vote is cast while watching a live television broadcast as lower house deputies cast their votes in the impeachment process of President Dilma Rousseff on April 17, 2016 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.Getty Images

  10. Prayers and cheers

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

    Pro-government demonstrators react as they watch the voting on a screen in Brasilia, Brazil, Sunday, April 17, 2016AP
    Pro-government demonstrators watch on a large screen, as lawmakers vote on whether or not to impeach President Dilma Rousseff, in Brasilia, Brazil, Sunday, April 17, 2016AP

  11. Not the first impeachment

    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.

  12. All eyes on the vote

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

    A woman follows the voting on a screen in Belo HorizonteAFP

  13. A reminder of the key figures

    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. 

  14. Lower house is packed as key vote proceeds

    Members of Brazil's Lower House of Congress voice their votes one by one over the impeachment of President Dilma Rousseff in Brasilia, Brazil April 17, 2016Reuters

  15. 'Yes' vote continues in the lead

    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. 

  16. Workers' Party MPs denounce 'coup'

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

  17. True to their words?

    The Brazilian newspaper O Globo 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.

  18. Police say 25,000 protesters are outside Congress

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

  19. Nail-biting times

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

    A man bites his nails as he follows the vote in the lower house

  20. 'Yes' vote ahead after 60 votes

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