Busy first day for Rousseff

BRAZIL: Brazil’s new president Dilma Rousseff held a flurry of talks with foreign envoys on Sunday during her first full day in office after succeeding her hugely popular predecessor Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva.

The 63-year-old Rousseff, who was Lula’s former cabinet chief, vowed during her inauguration on Saturday to continue his policies, which have fueled economic growth and enhanced Brazil’s international standing.

On Sunday, Rousseff met with South Korean Prime Minister Kim Hwang-Sik, Spain’s crown Prince Felipe, Uruguayan President Jose Mujica, Cuban Vice President Jose Ramon Machado and Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas.

The new foreign minister Antonio Patriota said her travel plans would take her to Brazil’s two biggest trading partners, the United States and China, in the coming months as well as a February South America-Arab summit in Peru.

Rousseff wants to improve ties with Washington and most likely will take a more critical stand with Iran, analysts have said, after Lula irked the United States with his friendly embrace of Tehran. She was also expected to pursue closer ties with the BRICS club of major emerging economies, which besides Brazil includes Russia, India, China and South Africa.

During Saturday’s inauguration ceremony, Rousseff received the green-and-gold official sash and a heartfelt hug from Lula before he left her alone in the spotlight to give her first speech to the nation.

“I will look after the most vulnerable. I will govern for all Brazilians,” she said in the televised address from the palace’s balcony.

AFP