All change in Brazil as Rousseff replaces Lula

He is a tough act to follow. But from January 1, living up to Lula’s legacy is the daunting task facing Dilma Rousseff as she becomes Brazil’s first female president.

Under Lula, the country is now an economic powerhouse with a growing say in world affairs. The question is: can his hand-picked successor continue the Brazilian boom?

The former Marxist who resisted the country’s military dictatorship and was tortured while jailed in the 1970s won a strong mandate in October. But Rousseff, a former energy minister, is often criticised for lacking the charm that helped Lula become a legend.

Her challenges include building up Brazil’s decrepit transport infrastructure, as it prepares to host the football World Cup and the Olympics in the next six years. And, ahead of the sporting extravaganzas, she is also set to pursue Brazil’s most determined drive yet to bring the rule of law to its slums.

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