Categories: Editor's Picks

Dilma Rousseff: Big Shoes Too

Dilma Rousseff became the first female president of Brazil in October 2010.  As successor to the popular and charismatic Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, she had big shoes to fill. It can now be safely said that although their styles are different, Rousseff has not disappointed her people and has the approval ratings to prove it. The President has been able to keep up the momentum of the previous administration which was instrumental in lifting so many Brazilians out of poverty and creating a fast-growing and dynamic economy.

Before her election success, President Rousseff had been a career civil servant. She was a very effective chief-of-staff to Lula, her mentor, for five years and very much his choice for the job. They shared an unshakable belief that Brazil’s major challenges were at home and that the country needed to mobilise its considerable resources and potential for the benefit of all.

Efficiency, honesty and transparency are the watchwords of the Rousseff administration and she has always waged war on corruption. There is a sense of justice, opportunity and equality in contemporary Brazil that makes the people very proud. This contrasts with a sense of powerlessness and exasperation of many people in austerity Europe. Although the economy stalled in 2012, Brazilians are more than comforted by the fact that unemployment is at such a very low level (less than 5% as of December 2012).

“Efficiency, honesty and transparency are the watchwords of the Rousseff administration and she has always waged war on corruption.”

Expectations in Brazil, the world’s sixth largest economy, are high and the creation of new jobs is, of course, of paramount importance. Significantly, Rousseff has been encouraging entrepreneurship in a big way and the number of start-ups is increasing dramatically. At CFI.co we believe this is the surest way for Brazil to move forward.

As soon-to-be hosts of the Soccer World Cup and the Olympics, Brazilian pride will take another boost and Rousseff and her government look set to deliver further on the aspirations of their people. As for the economy, Rousseff has certainly kept the train on the line during her presidency and avoided over-heating. She has promised a PIBao grandao (a big fat GDP) in 2013 to make up for the disappointment of last year and has the skills, authority and determination to see that this happens.

CFI

Recent Posts

Strategic FDI: How Developing Economies Can Attract Investment That Transforms

Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) remains a cornerstone of development strategies across emerging markets—but quality, not…

9 hours ago

Strengthening the Custody Chain: Bank One Supports Africa’s Private Capital Evolution

Adecade ago, fewer than one in ten African pension funds reported exposure to private capital.…

12 hours ago

Bridging the Gap: How AI Can Enhance Transparency, Governance and Unlock Africa’s Economic Potential Through FDI

A new era of transformation is dawning across Africa, though its light will not touch…

4 days ago

Africa’s $777bn Opportunity: Why Local Capital Must Power the Energy Transition

Africa stands at a critical energy crossroads. Countries must collectively come to terms with a…

6 days ago

Africa Enters an Age of Optimism

The upcoming UN General Assembly (UNGA) in New York presents an opportunity for world leaders…

1 week ago

Digital Health’s Q1 2025 Unicorn Baby Boom: Investors Bet Big on Innovation

The first quarter of 2025 saw an unprecedented rise in the valuation of digital health…

2 weeks ago