Brazil’s First Female President

Challenges Ahead for Brazil’s First Female President

Sunday, October 31st was a historic day in Brazil, as Dilma Rousseff of the ruling Workers Party (PT) was elected as the country’s first female president. Rousseff was catapulted to electoral success following the public endorsement of the wildly popular President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva. Early polls suggested that Rousseff would win without the need for a second round of voting, but following allegations of corruption within her party and the unexpected success of Green Party candidate Marina Silva, she failed to reach the necessary 50 percent of votes in the first round. Ultimately, last Sunday’s run-off election saw Rousseff overcome the established Brazilian politician and leader of the Social Democracy Party (PSDB), José Serra, with Rousseff winning a convincing 56 percent of the vote. Though she has worked in government as Lula’s energy minister and, more recently, as his chief of staff, the presidency will be Rousseff’s first time in an elected position.

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This analysis was prepared by COHA Research Associates Alexandra Reed and Nicky Pear

Brazil and UNASUR: Regional Security and the Nation’s World Standing in the Era of Rousseff’s Rule

The last few decades have witnessed a variety of efforts to encourage the multilateral political and economic regional integration now being seen in South America, including Comunidad Andina, Bolivarian Alliance for the Americas (ALBA,) and Mercosur, as well as various initiatives in the Organization of American States (OAS.) The Union of South American Nations (UNASUR) is the most recent as well as the most formidable attempt at economic and military integration. UNASUR differs from its earlier counterparts in the scope of its goals, the broadness of its membership (it includes Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Guyana, Paraguay, Peru, Suriname, Uruguay, and Venezuela,), and its exclusion of Washington. Relying exclusively upon resources and diplomatic initiatives of the involved South American nations, UNASUR’s stated goals include the creation of a single South American market by eliminating tariffs and promoting the increased development of the region’s international infrastructure, such as the Interoceanic Highway now under construction between Brazil and Peru. Also, on UNASUR’s agenda is a common defense policy for “enhancing multilateral military cooperation, promoting confidence and security building measures and fostering defense industry exchange,” as well as the free movement of visitors and migrant workers among member nations. To achieve these goals, UNASUR must be capable of coherently bridging wide political and ideological gulfs as the organization confronts the diverse problems facing it and the region.

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