Hundreds of thousands protest across Brazil demanding president's impeachment

Hundreds of thousands of people participated in anti-government protests organized across Brazil on Sunday, calling for the impeachment of President Dilma Rousseff, whom they accuse of corruption and economic problems that have befallen the largest Latin American country, reports the Patria News Agency.

This is the third wave of demonstrations against Rousseff this year. Around 125,000 people gathered in Sao Paulo, and 25,000 in front of the Congress building in the capital, Brasilia.

A spokesperson for the Brazilian government stated in a press release that the demonstrations are a "normal part of democracy," Reuters reported. According to the organizers, 45,000 people gathered in the capital, Brasilia.

Organizers stated that the protests, organized via social networks, were planned to take place in about 200 cities across the country.

In Rio de Janeiro, the protests were held, according to AFP, in a carnival atmosphere, with samba echoing from speakers mounted on a truck.

Some protesters carried surfboards, others rode skateboards, and there were also those who appeared only in bikinis or swimsuits.

Protesters, many of whom wore yellow football jerseys, waved Brazilian flags and chanted: "Dilma, out." At least 600,000 people demonstrated in April against the president and her left-wing Workers' Party, and in March, there were more than a million.

Dilma Rousseff's popularity has significantly declined, dropping to a single-digit figure after the discovery of the corruption scandal involving the oil company Petrobras, which she headed from 2003 to 2010. Polls show that nearly two-thirds of Brazilians believe that impeachment proceedings against Dilma Rousseff should be initiated, writes Tanjug.