Brasilia, Brazil---Brazil's leftist President Dilma Rousseff, elected to a second term in October despite overseeing four years of sluggish growth, Tuesday stressed the need for lower spending to balance the books and urged an end to corruption.
"Having the public accounts in order is necessary to keep inflation under control, bolster economic growth and provide a sustainable guarantee of jobs and wages," Rousseff said after talks with her new cabinet.
Rousseff, who has faced a battle with some sections of her Workers Party (PT) over the need to use austerity to stem rising inflation boost growth, also demanded an end to corruption as investigators probe an alleged scandal at state-owned oil giant Petrobras.
"We must punish but not destroy firms (which) are essential to Brazil. We must close the door on corruption," Rousseff said, referring to a kickback scandal which emerged last year possibly involving dozens of politicians and billions of dollars.
AFP
