Dilma’s Road to the Top
By Sibel Tinar, Contributing Reporter RIO DE JANEIRO – According to the recent opinion polls, Dilma Rousseff, the candidate of Partido dos Trabalhadores (PT, Workers’ Party), now appears closer than ever to becoming Brazil’s next president. In the first of three profiles of the leading contenders, The Rio Times looks at her path from imprisoned [...]
First of Four Debates for 2010 Elections
By Sibel Tinar, Contributing Reporter RIO DE JANEIRO – The first televised presidential debate prior to elections took place in São Paulo on August 5th, organized and broadcast by Rede Bandeirantes, with the participation of the four candidates whose parties are represented in the Câmara dos Deputados (Chamber of Deputies); Dilma Rousseff (PT), José Serra [...]
Leading Presidential Candidates Fined
By Sibel Tinar, Contributing Reporter RIO DE JANEIRO – Though still a long way from reaching a conclusion, the leading candidates in the presidential election race have already begun to accumulate fines for illegal campaigning and propaganda. The Tribunal Superior Eleitoral (TSE, Supreme Electoral Court), which is in charge of overseeing the campaign practices of [...]
Dilma Campaign to Cost R$187MM
By Sibel Tinar, Contributing Reporter RIO DE JANEIRO – The Brazilian presidential contest has been taken up a gear as the official election campaign begins this week and main candidates announce the budgets for how much they think it will cost them to win. With recent polls showing Dilma Rousseff of Partido dos Trabalhadores (PT, [...]
Brazilian Presidential Bid Intensifies
By Jewellord Singh, Contributing Reporter RIO DE JANEIRO – The three main parties competing for the presidential elections have now announced their potential Vice Presidents to help drum up further support for their bids. Marina Silva, front runner of Partido Verde (PV/The Green Party) officially declared businessman Guilherme Leal as their candidate on May 16. [...]
Brazil Announces PAC 2
By Mira Olson, Contributing Reporter RIO DE JANEIRO – On March 29th the Brazilian government announced a new Growth Acceleration Program (PAC 2) that will provide R$1.59 trillion (US$880 billion) in infrastructure and public projects as the second phase of the economic stimulus program targeting areas of high social sensitivity such as housing and health. [...]
Serra Given Early Lead in Polls
By Pedro Widmar, Contributing Reporter RIO DE JANEIRO – Just weeks away from the beginning of what will undoubtedly prove to be months of fierce presidential campaigning, José Serra, current governor of Sao Paulo, remains in a strong position. Despite not having formalized his candidacy, Serra continues to come out on top in both simulated [...]
Lula, PT Support for Rousseff Solidifies
By Pedro Widmar, Contributing Reporter RIO DE JANEIRO – Next month the PT (Brazilian Worker’s Party) will hold its fourth congress. The event, which is scheduled from February, 18th to the 21st, will be a chance for the party to discuss its general directives, organize campaign strategies for October’s federal and state elections, and, as [...]
Presidential Election Shapes Up
By Pedro Widmar, Contributing Reporter RIO DE JANEIRO – 2010 will mark the election of the 36th official President of the Brazilian Republic. Although the official calendar for campaigning does not begin until October 3rd, the political atmosphere is already dense with debate. The deadline for candidate registry isn’t until July 5th, but with parties [...]
Tim Flear: GB Consul General to Rio
By Doug Gray, Senior Reporter RIO DE JANEIRO – Tim Flear has been the British Consul General to Rio De Janeiro since 2006. In that time the city has undergone substantial changes that have made his job both more challenging and more demanding, as the profile of the Cidade Maravilhosa – both as a tourist [...]