Dilma Rousseff

Dilma and daughter, Jan. 1, 2011.

Dilma Rousseff (born 1947) was the President of Brazil from Jan. 1 2011 to May 12, 2016.[1] She is an economist and politician who became the first woman president of Brazil on January 1, 2011. Rousseff was Minister of Energy and later Chief of Staff in the administration of President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva. She was a Marxist who was imprisoned for three years, during which she said she was tortured with electric shocks. Upon her release from prison in the early 1970s, she continued her political path and eventually joined da Silva's Worker's Party.[2]

Inside Congress, taking an oath before the people's representatives, Dilma declared that:

> she did not see her election as extolling her own accomplishments but as a glorification of the Brazilian woman. She said her election to command the country paid homage to all Brazilian women. "My commitment is to honor women, protect the weak and govern for all".[3]

In 2010, Rousseff indicated that she would not support legalizing abortion:

> "Personally, I am opposed to abortion and am in favor of maintaining the current law."[4]

However, Rousseff later came out in favor of abortion supposedly "for medical and legal reasons."[5]

During her period as president, Rousseff spent much more than was allowed by Brazilian law; according to the Brazilian Constitution, this is a crime ("Crime de responsabilidade", lit. responsibility crime). The Congress and the Senate voted, resp. on Apr. 17, 2016 and May 11–12, 2016, that there was enough evidence to justify her impeachment, and her presidency was suspended on May 12, 2016. The interim president of Brazil is Rousseff's vice president, Michel Temer.[6] She was judged by Brazilian Senate and, after three long months, she was removed on Aug 31, 2016.[7]

## References[edit]

1. ↑ http://www2.planalto.gov.br/acompanhe-o-planalto/informacoes
2. ↑ https://www.voanews.com/english/news/Rousseff-Sworn-In-as-Brazils-First-Woman-President-112749864.html
3. ↑ http://agenciabrasil.ebc.com.br/thenewsinenglish?p_p_id=56&p_p_lifecycle=0&p_p_state=maximized&p_p_mode=view&p_p_col_id=column-1&p_p_col_count=1&_56_groupId=19523&_56_articleId=3153996
4. ↑ http://www.pisqa.com/10/brazil-dilma-rousseff-agrees-not-to-legalize-abortion/
5. ↑ https://oglobo.globo.com/brasil/dilma-defende-aborto-na-saude-publica-por-motivos-medicos-legais-12712379
6. ↑ http://especiais.g1.globo.com/politica/2016/processo-de-impeachment-de-dilma/da-eleicao-a-votacao-do-impeachment/
7. ↑ http://www12.senado.leg.br/noticias/noticias/materias/2016/08/31/dilma-rousseff-perde-o-mandato-de-presidente-da-republica-mas-mantem-direitos-politicos

## External links[edit]

* Dilma Rousseff.