Dilma Rousseff and Her Optimistic Smile
Dilma said that according to FAO (the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations) her country defeated hunger, “A few days ago FAO announced that Brazil is no longer in the World Hunger Map”. The lack of foodstuffs has become a thing of the past. This transformation was the result of economic policies which generated 21 million jobs and appreciated the minimum wage, increasing its purchasing power by 71%. Thirty six million Brazilians have been lifted out of extreme poverty to enjoy normal life.
The Brazil’s ruling Working Party has reached evident achievements in education, health care, and guarantee of minorities’ rights. Brazil jumped from being the 13th to being the 7th largest economy in the world at the time of global economic slump. The President implements coherent energy policy with state company Petrobas playing the key role. These and other achievements should be made remember by the 142 million voters who will define the Brazil’s policy for the next four years in October.
Speaking at the United Nations she condemned the United States operation in Iraq and Syria and expressed solidarity with the people of Palestine subject to the Israeli attacks. Dilma Rousseff believes such military interventions pose a serious threat to world peace, “Each military intervention leads not to peace, but to the deterioration of these conflicts. We witness a tragic proliferation in the numbers of civilian victims and humanitarian catastrophes. We cannot allow these barbaric acts to increase, harming our ethical, moral and civilizational values”. As an example she mentioned, “the tragic national destructuring of Iraq; the serious insecurity in Libya; the conflicts in the Sahel; and the clashes in Ukraine”. Media always remembers her September 2013 United Nations speech when she lambasted the total spying of the United States, including those whom America considers to be its friends. American journalist Glenn Greewald described the details of US eavesdropping operations when the conversations of Dilma, her relatives, the members of government, power structures and other government agencies officials were tapped. Those events have once and for defined the Brazilian President’s negative approach to Washington’s modus operandi. The Brazil’s external actions are to large extent influenced by mistrust towards the US officials who have relation to shaping the US foreign policy.
Latin America political foreign policy experts believe that the US and NATO military adventures aimed at establishing the new world order and weakening the financial and economic potential of the Western bloc pose a serious threat for the region. The US chaotic international policy envisages the use of force. It provokes “unfriendly” states, including nuclear powers. Inevitably it evoked concern among reasonable politicians of the Latin American continent. During the tenure of Obama the US has made attempts to topple legal governments in Venezuela, Ecuador and Bolivia. The heads of states were deprived of power in Honduras and Paraguay seen as “populist” by Washington which suspected they wanted to get rid of US military facilities on their soil.
Frustrated with Dilma Rousseff the White House is looking for loyal politicians in the country. It relies on Marina Silva and her financial sponsor Maria "Neca" Setubal. The latter graduated from San Paolo University and holds degrees in sociology and political science. She has experience of working in international organizations, including the World Bank and served as minister of education. Neca is widely known in Brazil, she controls Itau bank and belongs to the one of the richest families in the country. Since 2010 Neca provides funds for Silva’s election. In 2014 she coordinated the Silva’s staff and contributed $2 million to her campaign fund. The real support to the Silva’s election efforts on the part of Brazilian and foreign industrialists is much more significant.
The US special services use their secret funds for propaganda efforts in Brazil. They spread around fake information to discredit those who belong to the Dilma’s team, the members of government and some activists of the ruling Workers Party. It’s easy to understand why Setubal wants Silva to come to power – it’s the best way to put an end to the case in court as Itau bank has been brought charges against accused of tax evasion. The sum in question is 18, 7 Brazilian reals. Six years ago Itau and Unibanco banks merged. 11, 8 billion reals were not paid as income tax, as well as 6, 8 billion of interest, social and penal damage payments.
During her first tenure Dilma Rousseff proved she was an ardent fighter against corruption. The second term will give her a chance to modernize the country, create favorable social and political conditions for making millions of Brazilians involved in the process. The news of Marina Silva’s sudden rise to the candidacy of Socialist Party (instead of Eduardo Campos who died is an air crash that occurred under the most suspicious circumstances) is losing the effect. She finds it real hard to cope with the mission of pretending to be a politician concerned with the fate of the common people. Psychological pressure during the race is high, Silva often pulls blunders, for instance she diminutively spoke about the poor saying she doubted the expediency of providing them with government support. It’s rather shocking as Marina Silva herself belongs to those who made it from rags to riches.
A Datafolha poll conducted a week before October 5 showed that Dilma boasted the support of 40% of voters, the figure was 27% for Silva and 18% for Aécio Neves, the candidate from the Social-Democrats. Dilma has real good chances in the run-off election (October 26) with 47% ready to vote for her in comparison with 43% supporting Silva. With a deviation of 1-2% Dilma is to become a winner if the United States does not stage a massive provocation against her.
In New York journalists tried to know what Dilma thinks about her run-off election chances. She shied away from giving an answer. Dilma said that, as she had explained before, she never comments on forecasts no matter what polls said. A Brazilian reporter made one more attempt to get a word from her asking if her mood was better as the recent polls raised her chances. Dilma said with a broad smile,”Dear, I remain hilarious. Otherwise life is not worth anything. You do agree, don’t you?” she said.