After a hard fought battle, Dilma Rousseff, who is affiliated with the Workers Party of Brazil, has officially been announced as the victor in the race for President of Brazil. Rousseff will be the first ever female president in the country, and inherits a nation that has seen tremendous economic gains in the past decade.

Rousseff, who has full support of the current President, Lula, and was helped greatly by the endorsement, won 55% of the national vote, while her opponent Jose Serra won 45%. Lula leaves office with approval ratings which are through the roof. The 62 year old Dilma Rousseff, will take office on January 1st, 2011, with Vice President, Michel Temer.

Rousseff was born in Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil, and is of both Bulgarian, and Portuguese decent. She has had a long career in politics, making her well qualified for the new position. Over the last five years, she served as Brazil’s Chief of Staff for President Luiz Inácio da Silva. Prior to that, she served two and a half years as the 21st Minister of Mines and Energy in the country. The victory will also obviously advance an already blossoming political machine for Women in Brazil.