The lower house of Brazil's parliament has green lighted impeachment proceedings against the country's President, Dilma Rousseff.
According to reports from Brazil's capital Brasilia, the Chamber of Deputies voted for the impeachment of Rousseff by a two-thirds majority. The lower house is composed of 342 lawmakers.
The issue has now moved to the Senate, which is expected to open a formal impeachment trial in the coming weeks.
Should a simple majority be reached in its first vote, the Senate would take up the measure, and Rousseff would be forced to suspend her presidency for 180 days, during which Vice President Michel Temer would serve as acting president.
Should a two-thirds margin be reached in the Senate's second vote, Rousseff would be removed from office, and Temer would take over the presidency.