Rousseff asks Brazilians to back austerity plan

Brasilia

PRESIDENT Dilma Rousseff appealed to Brazilians on Sunday to back fiscal austerity policies, while saying that the belt-tightening will last as long as needed and results will only start showing at the end of this year.

With the economy stalled and ties with her coalition allies in disarray due to a corruption probe at state-run oil company Petrobras, Ms Rousseff needs support for unpopular steps to reduce a gaping deficit and save Brazil's investment grade rating on its debt from a downgrade by ratings agencies. "This is a process that will last as long as necessary to rebalance our economy," Ms Rousseff said in a nationally televised speech marking International Women's Day.