Dilma Rousseff

“I had great admiration for the election of President Obama. I believe that the U.S. at that moment showed tremendous capacity to show that it is a great nation, and it surprised the world. It may be very difficult to be able to elect a black president in the U.S. - as it was very difficult to elect a woman president in Brazil.”

“My mission is to eradicate poverty.”

“I am not an adolescent, nor a romantic. I analyze objectively.”

“Due to the fact that I experienced personally the situation of a political prisoner, I have an historical commitment to all those that were or are prisoners just because they expressed their views, their public opinion, their own opinions.”

“I hope the fathers and mothers of little girls will look at them and say 'yes, women can.'”

“I believe that Brazil was prepared to elect a woman. Why? Because Brazilian women achieved that. I didn't come here by myself, by my own merits. We are a majority here in this country.”

“We will not play with inflation. We are living a delicate moment. President Obama spoke to me today about the high unemployment affecting the United States. In this crisis period, when the developed nations are not recovering, it's prudent to maintain the established inflation target.”

“I consider the relationship with the U.S. very important to Brazil. I will try to forge closer ties with the U.S.”