Trial against Rousseff Continues after Day of Turmoil

The call for the various demonstrations was made by social movements after Waldir Maranhao, the acting president of the Chamber of Deputies, or Lower House, suspended the impeachment process on Monday.

Hours later, the president of the Brazilian Senate, Renan Calheiros, rejected the suspension of the impeachment process determined by his counterpart in the Lower House and decided to continue the process.

Rousseff reacted by saying: "I'm going to fight with all democratic instruments to prevent illegal interruption of my mandate by traitors and coup supporters" who "will be judged by history."

In the Avenida Paulista in Sao Paulo, supporters and detractors of the impeachment process against Rouseff gathered and blocked the traffic.

Members of the movement called 'Vem Pra Rua (come to the street)', dressed mostly in green and yellow comprising the opponents of the president gathered outside the headquarters of the Federation of Industries of the State of Sao Paulo (FIESP), one of the most combative institutions opposing the current government.

Rouseff's supporters, the 'Petralhas' gathered at the Sao Paulo Museum of Art to show their support for the decision of Maranhao and, as usual, shouted the slogan "there will be no coup."

In Brasilia, both sides gathered on the Esplanade of Ministries, a wide avenue where the main buildings of the Brazilian government, including the Senate, are located. For weeks, metal fences were installed to prevent possible clashes between protesters during the course of the political trial.

Brazil is going through one of the most turbulent times in the history of democracy, with the possibility of a political trial against President Rousseff due to allegations of corruption.

The vote in the Senate, not yet confirmed, should begin on Wednesday, but due to the complexity of the process, could be finalized the day after.

If a simple majority of the body's 81 senators approves, which is likely, that Rousseff should go to the process, she must step aside from office for 180 days, while the charges are being investigated by the committee.