Marina Silva still a contender in Brazilian presidential election

Global Business

Brazilian presidential candidate Marina Silva entered the race only seven weeks ago and quickly presented a serious challenge to the re-election hopes of President Dilma Rousseff. CCTV America’s Stephen Gibbs reports.

It would be an extraordinary story if Silva could be the next President of Brazil. Born in the Amazon region, Silva learned to read at the age of 16. She went on to become Brazil’s youngest ever senator, and an outspoken government minister. Today, she has transformed the election.

Despite signs that support for Silva has slipped in the last few days, many are still confident in her campaign.

“Marina is an expression of the ‘new Brazil’; as is her story. She’s a symbol of the Brazil of the last few decades. The country is changing. She is the face of Brazil,” said Maria das Dores Machado, a professor at Rio de Janeiro Federal University

Silva had expected to be the candidate for vice president alongside former state governor Eduardo Campos, but when he died in a plane crash six weeks ago, Silva took his place on the ballot.

She says Brazil should become a world leader in environmental legislation and has promised to reduce state interference in the economy. Her running mate is a congressman with links to Brazil’s agricultural industry.