Brazil could have first woman president after Lula picks successor

Brazil's ruling Workers' party has nominated President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva's chief of staff, Dilma Rousseff, to replace him, raising the prospect of the country's first woman president.

Lula, who cannot stand for a third term, picked the 62-year-old guerrilla leader turned economist to carry his centre-left banner in October's election.

A party congress endorsed her with a banner which read "With Dilma, along the path that Lula showed us".

Rousseff has never run for public office and lags behind a conservative rival, Sao Paulo governor Jose Serra, but polls show the gap narrowing.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2010/feb/21/brazil-could-have-first-woman-president

She hasn't had the same publicity the conservative has acquired, but your Guardian article indicates she's gaining ground, now.

http://upload.wikimedia.org.nyud.net:8090/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/8b/Dilma_Rousseff_2009.jpg/225px-Dilma_Rousseff_2009.jpg

Dilma Rousseff
Hoping the BETTER, not the more powerful candidate will win.

The question is whether the Brazilians will fear she's a Chavez in disguise. That could dooom her.

In Comment #36, here...

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=405x30994

Your comments about the "rainforest Chernobly" in Ecuador--the Chevron-Texaco toxic oil spill the size of Rhode Island, which has destroyed fisheries, rivers and streams and the living of 30,000 Indigenous people in the Amazon forest--and your racist remark, that the charges against Chevron should be disregarded because they were "presented by an Indian," taint all your other comments on Latin American issues. You are an oil corporation apologist. And your remarks are so ignorant, uninformed and so like the crap put out by Chevron's 12 P.R. firms--which they hired to discredit the Indigenous who filed suit against them for damages and cleanup--that your views have no credibility whatsoever.

In fact, I advise other DUers to use my Rule No. 1 from the Bush Junta as a guide to determining the truth of your statements: To wit, whatever you assert, the opposite is the truth.

Thus, we can surmise that, to the extent that Dilma Rousseff is perceived as being as close to Chavez as Lula da Silva is, most Brazilians, especially the poor majority, will approve of her. Lulu is good friends with Chavez, meets with him monthly to discuss issues of mutual interest and concern, and shares many policy goals, including social justice, assertion of national sovereignty, especially as to the use resources like oil to benefit the people, a "raise all boats" philosophy within their countries and with regard to smaller countries in Latin America, Latin American economic/political integration and opposition to U.S. militarism, bullying, domination and coup-making in Latin America. Lulu has said, of Chavez, "They can invent all kinds of things to criticize Chavez, but not on democracy!" He knows Chavez well and he supports him. If Rousseff continues this alliance, it will contribute to her success.

His charisma helped him in Brazil (both Serra and Rousseff lack the same charisma) and helped him in politics. Being a smart politician, Lula knew to take the usual pictures with Chavez and Castro but, at the same time, having the same photo-ops with George W. Bush.

The whole wishful thinking that Brazil needs someone like Chavez is ridiculous and if Rousseff wants to win she will have to convince voters that she will govern like Lula (not like Chavez) and that Chavez serves merely as a photo-op to appease the far left.

Regardless who wins the election this year is going to be a continuation of Lula. The difference will be more symbollic than anything.