Brasília – This Saturday (1st), in her first address to the nation as the president of Brazil, Dilma Rousseff called on all to join for the growth of the country. At the parlatorium of Palácio do Planalto (which houses the presidential office), in front of thousands of people who accompanied her inauguration from the lawn of the Congress and the Praça dos Três Poderes (Three Powers Plaza), in Brasília, Dilma stated that only through unity it is possible to create more and better opportunities for all.
"My dream is the same as any citizen’s. The dream that a mother and father may offer their children better opportunities than the ones they had. A dream that builds a country, a family, a nation. Challenge is what builds a country," she said, moved.
At times, during her address, Dilma cried and was greeted with applause. She spoke of chasing dreams believed impossible. "Because he did not believe that the impossible existed, president Lula has done so much for our country over these last few years. I am really going to need support from all of you. I would like to ask for support from all, from east to west, from north to south of our country. If we all work for Brazil, then Brazil will pay double for our effort. And may God bless Brazil and the Brazilian people. May we all, together, be able to build a world of peace," she finished off.
After receiving the presidential sash from the now former president Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva and making a speech, Dilma Rousseff was greeted by domestic and foreign authorities who attended the inauguration ceremonies. Former president Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva and the former first lady, Marisa Letícia, also spoke with heads of state and authorities from other countries.
Dilma mentioned a "mixture" of feelings about her inauguration and, at the same time, president Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva’s farewell. "Interacting with president Lula for all these years has given me the notion of what is a leader in love with his people. The joy that I feel for my inauguration gets mixed with the emotion of his goodbye," said Dilma, shortly after receiving the presidential sash from president Lula.
She also stated that her election has been another "bold move" on the part of Brazilian society which, eight years ago, placed a working man in power. "The will to change of our people has driven a working man to the presidency of Brazil. His effort, his dedication are already engraved in the hearts of each and every Brazilian. The power of these changes has enabled you, the Brazilian people, to make yet another bold move, by placing a woman in the presidency of Brazil for the first time," she said.
*Translated by Gabriel Pomerancblum
