Dilma Rousseff, the chosen successor of outgoing president Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva’s, won Sunday’s run-off election to become Brazil’s first female president. With about 96 percent of votes counted, Rouseff had garnered 55.5 percent of the vote, according to local media reports. She will take office on Jan. 1 continuing the mandate of the Workers’ Party.
Rousseff ran against the more experienced José Serra of the Party of Brazilian Social Democracy after neither candidate reached an absolute majority during the first round of voting.
The little-known candidate was backed during her campaign by the popular outgoing president, who was ineligible to run for a third term. Lula told voters that a vote for Rousseff was a vote for the continuation of his governing ideas.
Rousseff won most of her support in poorer areas, Serra did better among better-educated Brazilians, reported The Economist.
Rousseff ran against the more experienced José Serra of the Party of Brazilian Social Democracy after neither candidate reached an absolute majority during the first round of voting.
The little-known candidate was backed during her campaign by the popular outgoing president, who was ineligible to run for a third term. Lula told voters that a vote for Rousseff was a vote for the continuation of his governing ideas.
Rousseff won most of her support in poorer areas, Serra did better among better-educated Brazilians, reported The Economist.
