Jan. 2: From torture in a dictatorship-era jail cell to the helm of Latin America’s largest nation, it’s been an unlikely political rise for President Dilma Rousseff, a former Marxist rebel-turned-career technocrat who claimed Brazil’s seat of power on Saturday.
In becoming the country’s 36th President, Ms Rousseff pulled off a feat nearly unthinkable a year ago when the relative unknown was tapped by then-President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva to be the ruling Workers Party candidate.
She swept into office on the back of Mr Silva’s near universal adoration in Brazil. “I am going to consolidate the transformative work done by President Lula,” said Ms Rousseff, 63, during a 40-minute inaugural address. “He changed the way the government is run and led the people to trust in themselves.”
Mr Silva left office as the nation’s most popular President, with an approval rating that hit 87 per cent in his last week. Ms Rousseff served during both of his four-year terms, first as energy minister and then as chief of staff.
After signing the oath of office in Congress, Ms Rousseff travelled to the presidential palace, where Mr Silva removed his sash and placed it over her head as thousands of onlookers cheered. Mr Silva, always emotional, hugged several ministers and aides as he left by car to begin the journey to civilian life at his private home near Sao Paulo.
Mr Silva, who broke barriers by becoming Brazil’s first working-class President, could not resist one last dive into the crowds. He was unable to hold back sobs as his wife, Marisa, tried in vain to comb his hair for photos.
In her inaugural address, Ms Rousseff paid homage to Mr Silva and the advances Brazil made under his watch. His social programmes and wealth redistribution helped pull 20 million people out of poverty. Once on the brink of a sovereign default in 2002, the nation now lends money to the International Monetary Fund.
Unemployment is at a record low, and the currency has more than doubled against the US dollar. Brazil will host the 2014 World Cup and is expected to be the world’s fifth-largest economy by the time the 2016 Olympics come to the nation. While proud of those gains, Ms Rousseff said this is no time to relax. “There is still poverty shaming our country,” she said. “I will not rest while there are Brazilians without food on their table, homeless in the streets and poor children abandoned to their luck.”
Ms Rousseff referenced those of her generation who fought and died at the hands of the 1964-85 military dictatorship. Ms Rousseff was part of an armed rebel group for three years before being arrested and imprisoned in 1970. She spent three years in jail, during which time she was brutally tortured. Eleven women who were jailed with her were special guests at the inauguration.