The candidate of the Workers’ Party (PT) Rousseff was elected the new president of Brazil on October 31, 2010. The first woman president of Brazil has 56.05% of valid votes, defeating her opposition candidate Jose Serra of the PSDB in the second round of elections.
Ex-guerrilla, Dilma was Minister of Mines and Energy in 2003 and the Civil House in 2005. In 2001 her political path met the former President Luis Inacio Lula da Silva and since then she came in great political projects.
During all these years Dilma and Lula worked together and built relationships of trust. The ex president was the chief Dilma victory at the polls. Rousseff made her campaign based on the popularity of Lula, his acceptance of 77.5% of Brazilians have made Dilma win the most votes.
But now, what are the next steps of the government of Dilma?
In her first pronouncement Rousseff said her government would have key objectives in health, education and public safety. Areas that had a small progress in the Lula government. In health, the Lula government has invested only 3.5% of GDP (Gross Domestic Product), being the desirable minimum of 6.5%. At the level of illiteracy rate fell from 11.6% for 9.7% but is still considered high. In the context of security, left much to be desired, the borders of Brazil are poorly supervised, drug and illegal weapons continue to enter the country.
Despite the similarities ideological Rousseff reveals differences of ex-president. Unlike Lula, Dilma is more reserved, makes no major public appearances, or impromptu speeches. The order word seems to be commitment and no more the charisma that the former president said as much in the midst of popular jokes and jargon.
Dilma decreased the number of trips and increased working hours in Brasilia. Everyone thought that the ministries would have as model the choices made by Lula, but Dilma showed autonomy and made major changes. The Presidential Palace continued with 37 ministers, but now they are divided into four groups, each with a manager chosen by the president. Nine women have been appointed, the largest number of women ministers in the history of Brazil. All these changes led to speculation, but Dilma says the new structure will allow greater flexibility in decision making.
The economic team of the new president confirmed the figure of $ 50 billion in cuts in public spending, adjustments needed to maintain the financial health of the next year. Personnel expenses were reduced from $ 3.5 billion, through the postponement of procurement and other internal actions. Various ministries will be forced to cut costs, the ministry of the Cities was one of the most affected, his reduction was of R$ 5 billion. Trips of politicians not left out, rates at hotels and tickets will be reduced by 50%.
The announcement of this major cost cutting has been received with concern by most of the plenary. The new government measures to show the iron fist of the new president. Several sectors will be affected by the lack of investment but the government ensures that the Growth Acceleration Program – PAC, great project of the Lula government, will continue with planned investments.
Brazil waits Dilma new decisions. In three months of government we could feel a little of how will be the style of its mandate for the next four years. We know of her temperament and her strong ability to manage. Social programs such as Bolsa Familia will have increased funding, for the PAC (Growth Acceleration Program) the resources will be maintained.
The Brazilians want to progress together with a clean government and no financial scandals. The eyes of the world are upon us, we must seize the opportunities to become the developed and fair country that we want to be.
