Dilma Rousseff

Dilma Vana Rousseff Linhares (Born December 14, 1947) is a Brazilian economist and politician from the Worker's Party. In 2005, she became the first female appointed as the Chief of Staff of her country.

Biography

Rousseff joined the resistance movement against the military dictatorship in the mid 1960s, acting in left-wing guerrilla groups such as the Comando de Libertação Nacional (National Liberation Command) and the Política Operária (Worker's Politics). She was captured by the government's political police and convicted guilty by a military trial, without right for an attorney, and sent to jail, where she was tortured from 1970 to 1973. In December 2006, the Special Commission For Reparation of the Human Rights Office for the State of Rio de Janeiro approved Rousseff's request for indemnification.

By the late 1970s, Rousseff married the political militant Carlos Araújo, settling in Rio Grande do Sul. In 1977 she graduated from the Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul Economic Science School in 1977. Two years later, she acquired a master's degree and a PhD in Economic and Monetary Theory at the State University of Campinas.

Rousseff participated of the restructure movement of the Brazilian Labour Party, connected to the group of Leonel Brizola. After the Supreme Electoral Court gave Ivete Vargas the registry of the party name, she participated of the foundation of the Democratic Labour Party.

Rousseff was named secretary of Energy during the government of Alceu Collares in Rio Grande do Sul, between 1991 and 1995. In 1998, Olívio Dutra, a member of the Worker's Party, wins the elections to the state government with support of the Democratic Labour Party and Rousseff returned to the Energy Bureau.

In 1999 the Democratic Labour Party left the government and demanded the same from its members. Rousseff left the party and joined the Worker's Party to continue at the government.

In January 2003, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva appointed Rousseff the Energy Minister. In June 21, 2005, she became the Chief of Staff, taking place of José Dirceu, who left the job over media pressure and accusations of involvement in corruption.

Rousseff is also the chairman of the board of directors of the Brazilian oil company Petrobras. She is considered a possible presidential candidate for the Worker's Party for the 2010 elections.

References

External links

• Biographical Data of Minister Dilma Vana Rousseff from the website of the Presidency of Brazil