BRASILIA: Dilma Rousseff took over as Brazil's first female president Saturday with pledges to “govern for all” and build on the policies of her hugely popular predecessor Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva. The 63-year-old divorced grandmother, who was Lula's former cabinet chief, assumed the presidency in a carefully staged ceremony under at times rainy skies. A 1952 Rolls-Royce convertible took her along streets lined with an estimated 70,000 well-wishers. “I will look after the most vulnerable. I will govern for all Brazilians,” she said in the televised address from the palace's balcony. Required to step down after serving the maximum two consecutive terms permitted under Brazil's constitution, Lula has not said what he plans to do in retirement. But he commented weeks ago that he was a “natural born politician” who would not rule out maybe trying to return to the presidency after Rousseff's four-year mandate was over, depending on the performance of the woman he helped get elected. 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, declaring: “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. After the speeches, Rousseff greeted dozens of foreign leaders, most of them presidents from neighboring South American nations. – Agence France
