Protests fall short of expectations in Brazil

Demonstrators walk past shirts that read, "Out Dilma", during a protest against Brazil's President Dilma Rousseff, part of nationwide protests calling for her impeachment, at Paulista Avenue in Sao Paulo's financial centre, Brazil, August 16, 2015. [Photo/Agencies]

Senator Aecio Neves, the defeated candidate in last year's presidential election, participated in the protest at Belo Horizonte, capital of his home state Minas Gerais, where attendance was estimated at 10,000.

Protests in most cities were calm and even family-oriented events, with protesters taking selfies with the police, in a big contrast with the protests in 2013, which were dominated by conflicts with the authorities, criticisms, arrests and police violence.

The carnival-like environment of Sunday's protests, with choreographed dances, was criticized by the left wing.

In social networks, jokes about the protests were abundant, with several memes and amusing pictures of some of the most peculiar protesters being reblogged by thousands of people.

Earlier in the evening, Rousseff met with some ministers in Brasilia to discuss the outcome of the protests.

The government evaluates the protest as one within 'democratic normalcy', said Social Communications Minister Edinho Silva, adding Rousseff is expected to hold a regular cabinet meeting to discuss the government's strategy on Monday.