Now that the lower house of Congress has voted for impeachment proceedings to continue, the process will move to the Senate.

There it is "likely to move very fast", the BBC's Daniel Gallas in Sao Paulo says.

"The vote at the lower house was the best chance President Rousseff had of blocking the proceedings, where she needed just a third of the vote.

"At the Senate, a simple majority is needed to get the impeachment process going."

A Senate vote is expected to be held in early May. Reports suggest that a majority of the 81 senators will vote in favour of her removal.