Lula: Vote for 'continuity'
2010-09-28 11:25
Sao Paulo - The favourite to win Brazil's presidential elections next weekend, Dilma Rousseff, wrapped up her campaigning on Monday with her mentor, President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, calling for Brazilians to elect her in the name of "continuity".
Rousseff, 62, repeatedly told a crowd of thousands under rain in Sao Paulo she was proud to have served as Lula's Cabinet chief, reinforcing her association with the hugely popular outgoing leader.
"Sunday, we are going to again show that this democratic country knows how to give its opinion," she said. "So much so that eight years ago it voted for change and hope as the president of Brazil."
Lula, who came to power in 2003, is constitutionally barred from seeking a third four-year term.
He has thrown his considerable charisma behind Rousseff, helping her climb in the polls so far that it appears she could win Sunday's election outright with enough votes to make a run-off round unnecessary.
He also used the campaign stage to list his government's achievements, including the capitalisation of state-run oil company Petrobras, which last week launched a new share offer worth 70 billion dollars.
"I'm the one who has to thank the Brazilian people for their trust and their help," he said.
