Thursday, January 1, 2015

Brazil Presidential News- BBC

Brazil's Dilma Rousseff sworn-in for a second term

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Dilma Rousseff in BrasiliaMs Rousseff spoke to thousands of supporters who had been waiting outside the Planalto presidential palace

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Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff has been sworn-in for a second term.

Ms Rousseff, 67, has vowed to extend social welfare programmes that have lifted millions out of poverty.

"Never have so many people entered the middle class, never have so many Brazilians had so much access to education," she said.

Ms Rousseff, a left-wing economist who was arrested and tortured under military rule, was re-elected by a narrow margin in a run-off vote.

But her government is facing a major corruption scandal involving state-run oil company Petrobras.

Thousands of Ms Rousseff's supporters turned up for the swearing-in ceremony in the capital, Brasilia.

Many were wearing the red colour of Ms Rousseff's Workers' Party (PT), which has been in power since 2003.

'Long-term process'
The BBC's Julia Carneiro explains the challenges facing Dilma Rousseff in her second term
"We have lifted 36 million people from extreme poverty," she told lawmakers in the Congress building.
"It is time to pursue new goals. Brazilians want high-quality health and education services, security and that corruption be tackled.

"The Brazilian people have understood this is a long-term process. I have been re-elected to carry out the big changes Brazil needs," she added.

The motto for her second term will be "Brazil, a country of education," Ms Rousseff announced.

Dilma Rousseff and her daughter, PaulaDilma Rousseff arrived at the Congress building with her daughter, Paula, in an open-top car
Swearing-in ceremony in the CongressMs Rousseff was sworn in at the Congress building in Brasilia
Dilma supporters outside the Planalto PalaceShe promised to boost economic growth in her second four-year term
Ms Rousseff also promised to get the economy growing again, but said millions of jobs had been created in Brazil over the past four years "despite difficult circumstances" in the world economy.
Ms Rousseff travelled in an open-top car from the official residence, the Alvorada Palace, to the National Congress building, waving to thousands of people who lined the streets.

Representatives from more than 130 countries attended the swearing-in ceremony. Vice-President Michel Temer was also sworn into office.

The presidents of Venezuela, Nicolas Maduro; Uruguay, Jose Mujica; Bolivia, Evo Morales, and Chile, Michelle Bachelet were among the leaders present.

The United States and China were represented by their Vice-Presidents, Joe Biden and Li Yuanchao, according to Agencia Brasil.


'Kickback scheme'

Ms Rousseff won 51.6% of the vote in October, edging out centre-right candidate Aecio Neves, who took 48.4%.

She said "dialogue" would be her top priority after a bitterly fought campaign.



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