Dilma Vana Rousseff, a Brazilian economist and politician, made history in 2011 as the first woman president of Brazil. Her journey towards democracy, justice, and development began at a young age when she took a stand against military dictatorship. Despite facing imprisonment and torture, she emerged stronger and became a prominent figure in education, self-development, and politics. Dilma played a crucial role in the founding of the Democratic Labour Party and made significant contributions to energy efficiency in her state. Her dedication and achievements led her to serve as the Chief of Staff under President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva before ultimately winning the presidency herself.
Quick Facts
- Also Known As: Dilma Vana Rousseff
- Age: 76 Years, 76 Year Old Females
- Family:
- Spouse/Ex-: Carlos Franklin Paixão de Araújo, Cláudio Galeno Linhares
- Father: Pedro Rousseff
- Mother: Dilma Jane da Silva
- Siblings: Igor Rousseff, Zana Lúcia Rousseff
- Children: Paula Rousseff de Araújo
- Presidents
- Political Leaders
- Height: 5’7″ (170 cm), 5’7″ Females
- Notable Alumni: Federal University Of Rio Grande Do Sul
- City: Belo Horizonte, Brazil
- Founder/Co-Founder: Democratic Labour Party, National Truth Commission
- Education: Federal University Of Rio Grande Do Sul
Childhood & Early Life
Dilma Rousseff was born in Belo Horizonte, southeast Brazil, to Bulgarian lawyer Pedro Rousseff and schoolteacher Dilma Jane da Silva. She grew up in an upper-middle-class household with two siblings – Igor and Zana. Rousseff received her education at ‘Our Lady of Sion’ and ‘Central State High School’. It was during her time at ‘Central State High School’ that she was introduced to the local political scene by journalist Cláudio Galeno Linhares, whom she would later marry in 1968. As a teenager, Rousseff became actively involved in the resistance against the dictatorship established by a military coup. She joined ‘Worker’s Politics’ and later became a part of the ‘National Liberation Command’, a militant group. Rousseff was arrested in 1970 and was tortured and jailed for almost three years. She was released at the end of 1972 and started her life anew in Porto Alegre.
Career
After resuming her education, Rousseff graduated in Economics from the Rio Grande do Sul Federal University in 1977. As the grip of dictatorship weakened, she became active in politics again. She served as the Secretary of Finance for Porto Alegre from 1986 to 1988 and later assumed the role of Secretary of Mines, Energy, and Communication in 1993. Rousseff’s contribution in these roles was impressive, with energy efficiency and power production increasing considerably within Rio Grande do Sul. In 2003, she was appointed the Minister of Mines and Energy by Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva when he became the President. She was later appointed the Chief of Staff in 2005 and was groomed by Lula to be his successor. Rousseff fully committed herself to the presidential campaign in 2010 and won the election with over 56% of the valid votes. She was sworn in as the president of Brazil on January 1, 2011. As the president, Rousseff focused on ensuring economic stability, battling poverty, implementing tax and political reforms, and creating job opportunities. Her foreign policies also strengthened Brazil’s position in the global political scenario. However, her administration was marred by accusations of political corruption, resulting in the resignation and arrest of several government officials.
Awards & Achievements
During her administration, Rousseff focused on improving the living conditions of the poor and Brazilian citizens in general. More than 36 million Brazilians were lifted out of poverty, job opportunities were created, and the minimum wage saw a considerable hike. She received several international recognitions, including being ranked among the most powerful women in the world by Forbes. Rousseff also received the ‘Woodrow Wilson Public Service Award’ and became the first woman ever to open a session at the ‘United Nations General Assembly’. She was honored with awards in Bulgaria and Spain for her contributions.
Personal Life & Legacy
Rousseff was married to journalist Cláudio Galeno Linhares from 1968 to 1981. They had been separated since the early 1970s, and the divorce was finalized in 1981. She later married Carlos Franklin Paixão de Araújo, with whom she had her first and only child, Paula Rousseff. They divorced in 2000. Rousseff has a passion for history and opera and was once obsessed with Greek mythology. She even enrolled herself in a Greek theatre. She has battled lymphoma, which was treated with chemotherapy, and later developed myopathy. Rousseff has since recovered from her health issues. She is also known as ‘the Iron Lady of Brazil’.