Speech launching the candidacy of Dilma Rousseff for president, May 2, 2014

You [Lula] has been the biggest political leader who built this country in recent years.

I get the honorable and challenging mission to be the pre-PT candidate for president.

My respect and affection for Lula.

Was the commitment to the Brazilian people that brought us together and this commitment is unbreakable, does not break, do not spar.

Again, I stand before you and together with you.

It's for you, President Lula, to whom I address first, and I tell you, with all affection and respect that this act is more than a simple coincidence.

It is more a strong and convincing evidence of our mutual trust and close ties that binds us to the Brazilian people.

For President Lula, was the commitment to the Brazilian people that brought us together. And that commitment is unwavering.

When you took office, Brazil was one.

When the left, Brazil was another, completely different and much better.

So when succeeded in the presidency, I had the Herculean task of succeeding not a president - but a true legend.

The band did not weigh on my shoulders because we had worked together for years. Every day, every hour, even in our darkest hours, we were together honoring our commitment to the Brazilian people.

This is what gave me courage - and experience - to face and overcome all sorts of difficulties.

The band did not weigh because I knew I had next to me the people of Brazil as Lula had. Tens of millions of Brazilians to become light.

We also had the indispensable support of allied parties. This coalition was key to governance.

And we especially this incredible and courageous militancy of the PT, which never abandoned us.

But when took office, the world was one. Before long, the world was different.

The international economic and financial crisis threatening not only the stability of the largest economies, but much of the political and world economic system.

However, Brazil, this time did not give up, do not hit or knelt!

The Brazil could defend, like few others, most importantly, employment and worker's salary - and was the country that best won this battle!

This time, we refuse to do what was done in the past.

We face the crisis investing in the future of Brazil, betting on the strength of our people.

Therefore, we have been the country that is more winning the fight against poverty and reducing inequality.

What has consolidated the largest public housing program in our continent.

What deployed the largest professional education program in our history.

What led doctors to all Brazilian municipalities. What has improved the quality of education at all levels. And accelerated the progress of our physical and social infrastructure.

We did a lot, but we need to do much more.

We move well, but certain obstacles reduced sometimes our march.

These difficulties and obstacles are inherent in every government changes.

But what makes us change governments is precisely the ability to overcome the obstacles posed by life and also by the forces of conservatism.

Comrades,

For Brazil, this time, did not surrender, nor knelt?

Because we refuse to do what was done in the past.

In the past, that our opposition both advocates, Brazil has defended the crises arrochando workers' wages, increasing interest rates to stratospheric levels, increasing unemployment, slowing the growth by selling public assets.

And not content to sell the heritage of Brazil.

They alienated, with this disastrous policy, the future of the country.

They alienated the future of our people.

And, what is more painful, our hope as a nation.

This time, expanding the already did from the Lula government, we face the crisis investing in the future of Brazil.

Betting on the strength of our people.

Thus, we have created 4.8 million jobs in my administration. Together with the eight years of the Lula have a record of over 20 million registered workers.

While other countries desempregavam, we opened job openings.

It was to make different from the past that also raise the purchasing power of workers and the middle class.

Over the past 11 years, the worker's wages had real gain above 70%.

And this policy, they both fight will continue. Rest assured!

That's why we created a new and massive middle class in Brazil. 42 million Brazilians went in the front door, the labor and consumer market. That's why, Lula and I, we made a real social revolution in Brazil, removing 36 million Brazilians out of extreme poverty.

Just yesterday readjusted the values ​​of Bolsa Família by 10%, to ensure that everyone is above the extreme poverty line as to define the UN.

The last 3 years and 4 months, 6 were implemented major improvements in the Bolsa Família which led to a real increase in profit of 44.3%.

And we did more. We implemented large public investment program.

The MCMV [My House, My Life] has built about 1 million 650 thousand homes for poor Brazilians, realizing the dream of home ownership for many.

With the pact for urban mobility, we are investing 143 billion that are improving transport and traffic in major cities.

With the pact by the Health and More Doctors we are taking basic assistance to health to all municipalities in Brazil.

In just over eight months, we put 14,000 doctors in 3866 municipalities, ensuring health care coverage for 49 million Brazilians.

And that on the periphery of large cities, home to the workers and the new middle class. In NE, the NO in indigenous districts and maroon areas and within our country.

Doctors trained abroad, who came to the More Doctors, speak the universal language of solidarity. The most important thing is that they improve the lives of Brazilians.

With the pact for education, the most strategic for the country, we are making a monumental effort that will guarantee the future of every Brazilian (a) and the country's future.

With Pronatec, Prouni, the Fies and ENEM build, as ever, a path of opportunity and opened the doors of education for youth and adults.

With the Science Without Borders opened the world to our students improve themselves.

I want to reaffirm that with our historic decision to channel 75% pre-salt royalties for Education and 50% of pre-salt resources, let's take a qualitative leap decisive for public education in Brazil.

We are also committed to building a truly republican state, that is efficient and representative of all interests of the population.

This is also something unheard of in the history of Brazil.

At this point, I must say one thing with absolute clarity and conviction: the governments of the PT were the ones who fought and fight corruption in Brazil.

Before us, corruption was often swept under the carpet. Engavetava a lot. It investigated very little.

Now that the drawers were opened, everything appears and everything is investigated.

Those who know me know well that never admit any wrongdoing or illegal, wherever it comes from.

I know that shames a country is not ascertain, investigate display. What can embarrass a country does not fight corruption, is to sweep everything under the rug.

Partners and companions,

We do not compromise the future of Brazil and its people, as they did. Instead, we bet the future of the country is exactly the strength of the Brazilian people.

But some people think it's better to go back to the past where the poor and the middle class never had time.

There are few who want it. But they have friends who talk a lot.

We are many, so we have to talk more.

Some people think, for example, the minimum wage is too high. That we must reduce it.

Some people think that unemployment is very low and it is time to raise it. That Brazilian workers are earning too much, it's time to return to Arrochar wages.

Some people think it's time for Brazil to take back the stratospheric interest rates of the past, to attract speculative investment, make life easier for rentiers and hamper the growth and production of Brazil.

Some people think it takes away with the quota program for Afro-descendants in universities, as have tried to end the Prouni.

With the excuse of defending meritocracy, they argue, in fact, a university for rich and white.

There are political forces which further hate programs that take people out of poverty.

After all, they never bothered the poor of this country, with the distribution of income, with the overcoming of poverty.

But this is our brand; is our history.

Anyway, folks, there are people who think that the future of Brazil is in the past.

The unfair and late last (mediocre), the last crunch, unemployment, Blackout, the IMF, the university for the few, the profiteering from the sale of public assets.

Make no mistake, this is their agenda. It is the kick agenda. It's the return of Brazil for a few.

Comrades,

I want to tell you something that is choking in my throat. Something that is saved on my chest Brazilian citizen.

I was not elected to Arrochar worker's salary!

I was not elected to turn his back on the small entrepreneurs of our country

I was not elected to desempregar working men and women of Brazil!

I was not elected to sell or change the Petrobras name and deliver the pre-salt!

I was not elected to beg for money in the IMF!

I was not elected to make health Brazil a privilege of a few!

I was not elected to make education a narrow path!

I was not elected to sweep corruption under the rug, as they did!

I was not elected to put, again, the country to its knees, as they did!

I was not elected to betray the trust of my people!

I was elected to govern on his feet and with his head held high. And that's what I will continue to do, next to the Brazilian people and with the help of this amazing militancy that always gives us strength and inspiration!

Comrades,

My schedule is another. It is the agenda of those who are, in fact, next to the people of Brazil.

My schedule is tomorrow's agenda. The agenda of those who have done a lot and therefore can do more.

We can do this because we, the PT, we are the great innovative political force in Brazil.

It's time to move forward with deep reforms that Brazil needs both.

This begins with political reform, because without it will not build the society of the future that Brazil wants to see born.

Our governments are promoting real social change in the country and this created the basis for citizens to promote democratic and political change in Brazil.

I sent to Congress a proposal for a referendum so that the Brazilian people can debate and participate actively in the political reform. I have always been convinced that without popular participation will not have political reform that Brazil requires.

Our mission now is to carry it out.

In this new presidential campaign, we put political reform as something strategic and decisive for the future of Brazilian democracy.

Companions and Companions,

The rancor that nostalgic of the past have of us comes from our success, not of failure by which they both cheered and either twist.

We show that another world is possible, another Brazil is possible.

This new Brazil will not accept setbacks, even if they are disguised as apparent novelty. The strange new measures they call "unpopular" when they should call them "anti-people".

Brazil does not return in time. It will not be driven by anger, hatred and resentment.

We know where we came from and we know where we are going. We ruler and compass of the great popular struggles. We have the compass of eternal utopias libertarian and egalitarian. And in our blood, the blood that many of us shed, runs democracy.

The only way possible for Brazil is to move further towards a future of greater equality, more opportunities for all, greater distribution of income, higher wages for workers, more rights, more democracy, more education and innovation. For us we always want and strive for change every achievement is just a start.

I want to give a word about the World Cup. It will be a success. I want to give you a comment made to me: "It's funny, we love football! We are the country of football, we follow all the tournaments, cheering and having fun. Now that it is here in Brazil we can not take ... Why? Because the policy does not leave ... .. everybody is criticizing, speaking ill of the World Cup ... ".

The direction of Brazil is the future desired by the generosity, solidarity and love of our people, not the past cherished by rancor or resentment of those who already defeated in three presidential elections and defeat, again, this next election.

Be sure of it!

Because of this new Brazil that are building no return possible!

We will move in the right direction!

Next always on the side of the people!

VIVA PT!

VIVA BRAZIL!

VIVA THE BRAZILIAN PEOPLE! "
