New Brazilian 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, Spainish Crown Prince Felipe, Uruguayan President Jose Mujica, Cuban Vice President Jose Ramon Machado and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas.
The new Brazilian Foreign Minister Antonio Patriota said her travel plans would take her to Brazil’s two biggest trading partners, the US and China, in the coming months as well as a South America-Arab summit in Peru next month.
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 US with his friendly embrace of Tehran.
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.
In her swearing-in speech before Brazil’s Congress, Rousseff repeatedly paid homage to her mentor, calling him a “great man” and vowing to maintain his legacy, notably in reducing poverty and promoting economic prosperity.
“The most determined struggle will be to eradicate extreme poverty,” she said. “We can be a more developed and fairer country.”
Rousseff outlined plans for tax reforms, environmental protection, improved health services, regional development — and unspecified measures to combat foreign “speculation” that could upset Brazil’s economic growth, but challenges loom.
Growth is expected to slide to 4.5 percent this year, rising inflation is well above the government target at an estimated 5.9 percent and an aim to cut public debt from 42 percent to 30 percent is likely to meet resistance, as Brazil desperately needs more and better infrastructure.
Brazil’s currency, the real, has more than doubled in value against the US dollar during Lula’s eight years in power and looks set to rise further, undermining the competitiveness of Brazilian exporters.
Rousseff will also inherit a diplomatic row with Italy.
Rome is furious over Lula’s decision not to extradite far-left activist Cesare Battisti — wanted for a series of murders in the 1970s — and its ambassador was to return to Italy on Sunday after attending the inauguration.
Italian Foreign Minister Franco Frattini told a newspaper that his government may file a suit with the International Court of Justice, but Brazil’s new Justice Minister Jose Eduardo Cardoso suggested there would be no change in stance on the extradition, saying he had not “the slightest doubt president Lula’s decision was correct.”
Patriota, the chief Brazilian diplomat, interpreted the presence of the Italian ambassador at the inauguration as a sign both countries wished to preserve their ties and open a “constructive agenda.”
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