Brazil President Sets Example for Women in Politics
Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff has been an inspiration to women in politics since she surprised many with her positive and successful start in government.
After Rousseff became the first female president of the country an unprecedented number of women have now put their names forward to run for municipal offices in 2012 elections.
The number of women candidates has nearly doubled and increased since the last elections from 28 women to 47.
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Experts have suggested that Rousseff’s popularity has motivated female candidates to join the fight and go after what they want in the politics.
"She has a different attitude, she's showing that she has guts," said political scientist Maria do Socorro Sousa Braga, of the Federal University of Sao Carlos in Sao Paulo state.
According to Manuela D’Avila, a two-time state legislator, who is leading the mayoral race in Porto Alegre, Rousseff has shown by bringing many women into her government that women have a high capacity for governance.
“With Dilma’s election, we saw the voters trust women,” said D’Avilla, according to AP.
Congressman Reginaldo Lopes, a local party leader also believes that the current president has shown that women have strength and can govern as well as men.
Rousseff has become quickly known for her strength and proven to be a capable political leader. Her no-nonsense temperament has also been praised as a sign of her efficiency and focus on her work. During her first six months alone, 38 ministers were cleared out of office after alleged misdeeds.
The president is also confirming her initial promises on the behalf of Brazilian women. Some of her policies will allow girls to spend more time in the classroom, and women to devote more time to their careers.
Rousseff’s reputation has been polled as “good” or “excellent,” according to a national poll, and respondents expect that she will continue to surprise her critics.
