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Leader of Brazil Visits Amid Home Turbulence Dilma Rousseff of Brazil Visits U.S. Amid Turbulence at Home
(about 11 hours later)
WASHINGTON — President Dilma Rousseff of Brazil said at the White House on Tuesday that the spying scandal that damaged ties with the United States had been surmounted because telephones between Brasília and Washington work both ways.WASHINGTON — President Dilma Rousseff of Brazil said at the White House on Tuesday that the spying scandal that damaged ties with the United States had been surmounted because telephones between Brasília and Washington work both ways.
In 2013, Ms. Rousseff canceled a planned state visit, a rare honor, because of revelations that the National Security Agency had hacked into her cellphone and private email. While the Brazilian government demanded a written explanation and an apology, no expression of regret ever came.In 2013, Ms. Rousseff canceled a planned state visit, a rare honor, because of revelations that the National Security Agency had hacked into her cellphone and private email. While the Brazilian government demanded a written explanation and an apology, no expression of regret ever came.
But on Tuesday, Ms. Rousseff said that President Obama’s promise that such spying had ended was enough for her, in part because he had told her that “should he ever need nonpublic information about Brazil, he would just pick up the phone and call me.”But on Tuesday, Ms. Rousseff said that President Obama’s promise that such spying had ended was enough for her, in part because he had told her that “should he ever need nonpublic information about Brazil, he would just pick up the phone and call me.”
Ms. Rousseff’s change of heart could also be a result of a series of crises that have enveloped her administration almost from the moment she won a second term late last year. Her approval rating was only 10 percent in a poll conducted in June by the Brazilian firm Datafolha, a major drop from 42 percent last December. Ms. Rousseff’s change of heart could also be a result of a series of crises that have enveloped her administration almost from the moment she won a second term late last year. Her approval rating was only 10 percent in a poll conducted in June by the Brazilian firm Datafolha, a major drop from 42 percent last December. 
Brazil’s economy is widely thought to be in recession, unemployment is rising along with inflation and consumer debt, and the central bank continues to raise interest rates, further hurting growth. So fixing Ms. Rousseff’s relationship with the United States and wooing American investors are widely seen as vital to Brazil’s recovery.Brazil’s economy is widely thought to be in recession, unemployment is rising along with inflation and consumer debt, and the central bank continues to raise interest rates, further hurting growth. So fixing Ms. Rousseff’s relationship with the United States and wooing American investors are widely seen as vital to Brazil’s recovery.
Ms. Rousseff spent Monday in New York speaking to investors, had dinner Monday night with Mr. Obama in the White House, and will be in California on Wednesday for meetings with technology, biotechnology and air-and-space executives.Ms. Rousseff spent Monday in New York speaking to investors, had dinner Monday night with Mr. Obama in the White House, and will be in California on Wednesday for meetings with technology, biotechnology and air-and-space executives.
Midday on Tuesday, she stood beside Mr. Obama and declared that Brazil would, like the United States after the 2008 recession, emerge from its present problems. “We will do so very sure-footedly, very decisively, with a great sense of commitment,” she said.Midday on Tuesday, she stood beside Mr. Obama and declared that Brazil would, like the United States after the 2008 recession, emerge from its present problems. “We will do so very sure-footedly, very decisively, with a great sense of commitment,” she said.
Michael Shifter, the president of the Inter-American Dialogue, a Washington-based policy analysis group, said that Ms. Rousseff was hoping that a successful trip could help stop the bleeding from a miserable year.Michael Shifter, the president of the Inter-American Dialogue, a Washington-based policy analysis group, said that Ms. Rousseff was hoping that a successful trip could help stop the bleeding from a miserable year.
“She’s in real trouble,” Mr. Shifter said.“She’s in real trouble,” Mr. Shifter said.
Besides a poor economy, Ms. Rousseff must contend with a huge corruption scandal involving a onetime jewel, the state-owned oil company Petrobras, which continues to widen. Marcelo Odebrecht, the powerful chief executive of the construction and chemicals conglomerate Odebrecht — a major backer of Ms. Rousseff’s political party — was arrested and charged with leading a bribery scheme this month. Besides a poor economy, Ms. Rousseff must contend with a huge corruption scandal involving a onetime jewel, the state-owned oil company Petrobras, which continues to widen. Marcelo Odebrecht, the powerful chief executive of the construction and chemicals conglomerate Odebrecht — a major backer of Ms. Rousseff’s political party — was arrested and charged with leading a bribery scheme this month. 
In response to a question about the scandal, Ms. Rousseff gave a rambling answer in which she insisted that “people have the right of proving that they are innocent,” that “the burden of proof lies on the accusing party,” and that anything less “would send us back to the Middle Ages.”In response to a question about the scandal, Ms. Rousseff gave a rambling answer in which she insisted that “people have the right of proving that they are innocent,” that “the burden of proof lies on the accusing party,” and that anything less “would send us back to the Middle Ages.”
Ms. Rousseff also complimented Mr. Obama on his decision to open diplomatic relations with Cuba, praise that came a day before the United States and Cuba are expected to announce the opening of embassies in Havana and Washington.Ms. Rousseff also complimented Mr. Obama on his decision to open diplomatic relations with Cuba, praise that came a day before the United States and Cuba are expected to announce the opening of embassies in Havana and Washington.
“It is really about putting an end to the last lingering vestiges of the Cold War, and it ultimately elevates the level of the relations between the U.S. and the entire region,” Ms. Rousseff said. “May I acknowledge the importance of that gesture to all of Latin America and also to world peace at large.”“It is really about putting an end to the last lingering vestiges of the Cold War, and it ultimately elevates the level of the relations between the U.S. and the entire region,” Ms. Rousseff said. “May I acknowledge the importance of that gesture to all of Latin America and also to world peace at large.”