On 31 March 2016, protests were held of over a 100.000 people across Brazil to protest against the approaching impeachment procedure. While in contrast to earlier protests that drew millions who wanted Dilma Rousseff to step down, it is significant as the protests did not attract merely protestors in favour of the President. Many protestors worry about democracy and the implications of a precedent that could be set if there would be an impeachment. It would also not solve the economic problems of the country. The impeachment will be discussed and voted on in the lower house - Chamber of Deputies - of the Brazil's Congress on 17 April 2016. If voted for, hearings will be held in the Federal Senate. In the meanwhile, following earlier signals, more ministers of the Cabinet have resigned.

Technically the President is charged for having masked the government budget deficit ahead of the 2014 elections, by using funds of banks linked to the state, which has been done before by previous governments. Many protestors see the impeachment as merely an opportunistic move of the opposition to remove the President. A possible winner of this impeachment could be the Vice-President Michel Temer. He is a member of the political party Brazilian Democratic Movement (PMDB). While in coalition, a member of this party was also Eduardo Cunha, who has led the impeachment process. A parallel is being made with the popular US show ''House of Cards'', as dirty tactics are supposedly being used for political opportunism. The protests and resignations by the ministers mark more complications of the political and economic instability of Brazil.

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For more on the possible impeachment of current President of Brazil Dilma Rousseff and its procedure click here  and here.

For more on the dire economic situation of Brazil click here.
For economic facts and figures on Brazil click here and here.