Pro- and anti-Rousseff demonstrations in streets of Brazil

RIO DE JANEIRO – Thousands of demonstrators took to the streets in Brazil on Sunday, some calling for the permanent ouster of suspended President Dilma Rousseff and others demanding her return to office.

Rousseff was impeached and suspended in May for allegedly violating budget laws. A Senate trial on permanently removing her is expected in late August.

A few hundred people gathered on Rio de Janeiro’s Copacabana beach Sunday to push for Rousseff’s permanent removal. It was one of 20 states to see anti-Rousseff protests.

Meanwhile, demonstrators in 15 states were protests against acting President Michel Temer. Rousseff’s allies are also promising protests on Friday as the Olympic Games open.

In Sao Paulo, homeless leader Guilherme Boulos said that the opening of the Rio Games will be “the beginning of a new cycle of struggle.”

Boulos said the anti-impeachment protest he helped organized took 60,000 to the streets of Brazil’s biggest city. Police didn’t offer any estimates.

Many of the pro- and the anti-impeachment protesters were also calling for new elections.

If Rousseff is permanently removed, Temer will be able to stay on the job until the end of 2018.