Brazil's First Woman President Sets Her Agenda

By Anastasia Gubin and Bruno Meneses
Epoch Times Staff
Nov 2, 2010

RIO DE JANEIRO, Brazil—In her first televised speech since wining the presidential election, Dilma Rousseff, the next head of state of Brazil, praised current President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva and emphasized women's rights. She also promised to respect freedom of religion, freedom of the press, and human rights, but above all, she will work to eradicate poverty, reported O Globo.

“We cannot rest while there are hungry Brazilians and while poor children are abandoned to their own luck,” said Rousseff. “It is about an abyss in a developing Brazil.”

The first woman to be president in the country's history praised Lula and promised to honor her campaign promises of eradicating poverty, expanding the differentiated fiscal system for small businesses, and safeguarding freedom of the press, and freedom of belief.

Rousseff, like Lula, is a member of the Workers' Party, and she headed his Cabinet. On Sunday, after a run-off election, official election sources determined that Rouseff had the majority of votes for Brazil's presidency. She won with 56 percent of the votes, while José Serra received 44 percent.

The recently elected leader of the world’s fifth most populous country, at age 62, will take over the position on Jan. 1, 2011. Current President Lula, who had handpicked his successor said, “There is no possibility of me being part of the government” reported El Mundo.

Rousseff was smiling long before results were announced. She repeatedly said, “I am going to govern for everybody. I am going to talk with all Brazilians without exception.”

During the acceptance speech, the president-elect said her government will keep inflation under control and will make public expenditures more efficient. She will push for tax simplification and work to improve services for the general population.

“But above all, I want to reaffirm our commitment to economic stability and economic rules, signed contracts, and the already accomplished goals.” Finally, she expressed she is going to create mechanisms to benefit small business owners.

While polls at the beginning of October did not give her more than 46 percent of the vote, in the last days of the election, she appeared to have 55 percent.

According to Ultimas Noticias, defeated Brazilian candidate José Serra said, “This is not goodbye, it's just until we meet again.” He also said, “I fought the presidency with much pride. I tell you from my heart, I am very grateful to the 46 million of Brazilian men and women that voted for me.”

Regarding the contest between Rouseff and Serra, O Globo stated, “The confrontation that is just ending was marked as being one of the 'dirtiest' in recent times, with razor-sharp speeches, as well as conservatism amid accusations and corruption scandals.”

Brazilian media indicated the new head of state with numerous, serious problems—including corruption—inherited from the previous government.

Source: The Epoch Times.
Link: http://www.theepochtimes.com/n2/content/view/45222/.