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| The incoming president travelled to congress with an all-female security guard team |
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Brazil has welcomed in the New Year with the swearing in of a female successor to their wildly popular previous president, Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva.
Thousands of supporters defied driving rain in the streets of the capital Brasilia to cheer Dilma Rousseff as she travelled to the congress in a 1953 Rolls Royce surrounded by female bodyguards.
Mrs Rousseff, a former Marxist rebel who was imprisoned and tortured during Brazil's military dictatorship, now takes the helm of Latin America's largest nation.
She faces the challenge of living up to the 87% approval rating held by her predecessor Mr da Silva, known by his nickname Lula.
His eight years in power coincided with Brazil's economic boom and rising global importance.
In her inaugural speech, Mrs Rousseff vowed to focus on tax reform and other steps to help eradicate extreme poverty in the next decade.
"Many things have improved in Brazil, but this is just the beginning of a new era," said the 63-year-old, who briefly choked up with emotion during the address to Congress.
"My promise is ... to honour women, to protect the most fragile, and to govern for all."
Dressed in a white suit, Mrs Rousseff was handed the presidential sash at the balcony of the government palace before a crowd of supporters.
The coming decade looks bright for Brazil, with massive, offshore oil reserves due to be exploited and the country preparing to host the World Cup and the Olympic Games.
But Mrs Rousseff will also need to tackle the urgent improvements Brazil needs in its infrastructure, security and education.
She also recognised the difficulties posed by inflation, and promised in her address to keep prices under control.
After the swearing-in, the new president rode through the streets of Brasilia in the Rolls Royce with the roof down, and her daughter by her side.
Nine of her 37 ministers will be women - a record for Brazil.
SKYNEWS
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