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Dilma Rousseff
President

The Economist Dilma Rousseff was elected the President of the Federative Republic of Brazil for two consecutive terms. Previously, in the first two governments of President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, she was the Minister of Mines and Energy and Minister Chief of Staff, a position she held until 2010. During this period, she chaired the Board of Directors of Petrobras, Brazil’s largest and most important company.

As the President of Brazil, Dilma Rousseff focused her agenda on ensuring the country’s economic stability and job creation. In addition, during her government, the fight against poverty was prioritized, and social programs that started under President Lula da Silva’s terms were expanded and internationally recognized. As a result of one of the most extensive processes of poverty reduction in the country’s history, Brazil was removed from the UN’s Hunger Map.

Internationally, she promoted respect for the sovereignty of all nations and the defense of multilateralism, sustainable development, human rights, and peace. Under her government, Brazil was present in all international fora for climate and environmental protection, culminating in decisive participation in the achievement of the Paris Agreement.

Dilma Rousseff significantly expanded cooperation with several countries in Latin America, Africa, the Middle East, and Asia. In July 2014, she participated with the BRICS countries in the creation of the New Development Bank and the Contingent Reserve Arrangement.