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

Sustainable Investment in the Dominican Republic: Driving Economic Development in the Caribbean

The Dominican Republic has emerged as a regional leader in attracting foreign direct investment (FDI)…

1 day ago

Lee Clow: The Enigma of Cool

He’s the laid-back surfer who redefined advertising, the enigmatic visionary behind Apple’s "1984" and "Think…

4 days ago

Rate Holds Dominate as Major Central Banks Navigate a Fragile Global Economy

Monetary policymakers from the world’s largest economies are opting to play a cautious hand. This…

1 week ago

“Mad Men”: A Retrospect – The Men, The Women, and the Martini-Soaked Magic of Madison Avenue

"Mad Men", the award-winning AMC drama, wasn't just television; it was a cultural phenomenon. More…

1 week ago

ASML and the Unrivalled Future of Semiconductor Lithography: Can Global Rivals Compete?

When contemplating the geopolitical chessboard of semiconductor manufacturing, the mind often drifts to the sprawling…

2 weeks ago

Welcome to the Correction: Wall Street Teeters Amid Trade Tensions

The S&P 500 officially entered correction territory this week, sliding over 10 percent from its…

2 weeks ago