Landslides: Rousseff's First Major Challenge

BMI View: The devastating landslides and flooding affecting Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo present a major test for new President Dilma Rousseff, who will need to be seen to act quickly and effectively to prevent her popularity being undermined. Over the longer-term, the focus is likely to be on disaster preparedness, with the destuction acting as an unwelcome reminder of the vulnerability of the country's low-income housing and dilapidated infrastructure.

To read the full article, please choose one of the following options: