Brazilian President-elect Dilma Rousseff said here Friday that her election victory shows Brazilians want change.

She made the remarks at a ceremony where she received her presidential diploma at the headquarters of the Superior Electoral Tribunal, the last step in the presidential electoral process, which began on Oct. 3 with the first round of elections.

Brazilians first elected a worker, Lula da Silva, as president, and then a woman, which proves that they want change, she said.

"We are so proud to see a worker leading the country toward an extraordinary period of social and economic progress. It was the same sense of change and progress that led people to elect a female president," she said.

Rousseff emphasized that choosing a woman president means people are challenging limits and overcoming prejudices, which shows the Brazilian democracy is maturing.

"I know that there are high expectations for the government that I will begin in January. I know the responsibility of succeeding a ruler like President Lula. I know the immense challenges that our future holds. But if we think of what each of us can do for Brazil, we find an infinite force, which is renewed all the time," she said.

Rousseff, member of the ruling Labor Party (PT), won the presidential runoff on Oct. 31 against her opponent Jose Serra, from the Brazilian Social Democracy Party (PSDB).

She will be inaugurated as president in Brasilia on Jan. 1, 2011.

Go to Forum >>0 Comments