Will Rousseff make a miracle for Brazil?
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In order to achieve this objective, she has to eliminate three terrible "Guinness World Records" among the emerging economies, i.e., the highest interest rates, the heaviest tax burden and the lowest public-investment rate. With these records, it is hard for Brazil to sustain long-term high growth. Moreover, Brazil also needs to improve its investment environment, upgrade infrastructure, promote education and reduce dependence upon exporting natural resources and commodities.
Brazil will host the next FIFA World Cup in 2014 and the Summer Olympic in 2016. Definitely, these two events will further polish Brazil's international image. But Brazil needs to work hard to make them a great success.
During Lula's presidency, Brazil caught the eyes of the world by establishing the IBSA Dialogue Forum (India, Brazil, South Africa), hosting the second BRIC summit, standing against the United States on many issues, developing good relations with its neighbors and even rejecting new sanctions against Iran. It is unlikely that Rousseff will change Brazil's foreign policy. She has said, "Brazil has to maintain relations with several countries, and in the case of Iran, what we advocate is that the best strategy is not war; is not isolation."
China was not a hot topic of debate among the presidential candidates. According to the news coverage, however, one candidate was reported to say that he supported the idea of protecting the domestic market by restricting foreign products from China and other countries. Rousseff promised to maintain Lula's foreign policy, therefore, it can be expected that she will continue to develop close relations with China, which has become its largest trade partner.
Brazilians have made a miracle by choosing Rousseff to become the first female president of the South American nation, and now it is her turn to produce a miracle by maintaining what Lula has achieved in economic, political, social and international areas. Brazil is said to be the country of the future, but many people say the future is always tomorrow. Probably, under Rousseff's leadership, Brazil will witness a "tomorrow" that comes earlier.
The author is a columnist with China.org.cn. For more information please visit:
http://www.china.org.cn/opinion/node_7075399.htm
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