Economic difficulties to continue in 2016, Rousseff says

President Dilma Rousseff said today (Aug. 25) that Brazil is facing an economic situation that “requires care” and acknowledged that the crisis will not be overcome anytime soon despite the government's efforts. According to Rousseff, 2016 will be a tough year.

“I do hope things will get better. I can't guarantee that 2016 will be a wonderful year, this is very unlikely to happen. But it won't be this huge disaster people are saying. We'll still have challenges as we don't know how this international economic situation is going to unfold,” the president said in an interview to radio stations in São Paulo state.

Rousseff mentioned the global stock exchange plunge yesterday (24), saying that Brazil is protecting its economy with such measures as an export package and a logistics investment-driving program.

“We have already begun [to roll out] our remedies so we shouldn't get any worse,” she said. The president again criticized what she described as pessimism about the future of Brazil's economy and said that dissatisfaction with the government is “understandable” but the problems cannot be solved all at once.

The president is attending the delivery of 1,237 homes of the Minha Casa, Minha Vida affordable housing program in Catanduva, São Paulo state, later today. She will also watch similar events in other municipalities in São Paulo including Araras, Araraquara and Mauá, via videoconferencing.

A total of 2,555 homes will be delivered today as part of the social program. According to the Ministry of Cities, the projects have received about $70.4 million from the federal government and will benefit more than 10,000 people.

Translated by Mayra Borges