More than 342 lawmakers, the two-thirds majority required by law, have voted in favor of impeachment. More than 130 lawmakers have voted against it. Voting was ongoing late Sunday night.
Rep. Bruno Araujo was triumphant as he cast the 342nd vote against Rousseff Sunday night. "It`s an honor, what an honor that destiny has reserved for me. ... From my voice will come the scream of hope for millions of Brazilians," he said.
The impeachment motion will next go to the country`s Senate. If a majority approves it there, Rousseff will have to step down for 180 days to defend herself in an impeachment trial. If the motion is approved, Rousseff could be suspended as early as May. That would be about three months before the Summer Olympics kick off in Rio de Janeiro, an event that was supposed to showcase Brazil as a rising power on the global stage. Sunday`s vote came after weeks of raucous debates inside Brazil`s Congress and rival protests outside.
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