Dilma Rousseff Re-Elected By Narrow Margin As Brazil's President

Brazil's incumbent president Dilma Rousseff has won a second term, defeating her opposition rival Aecio Neves with a narrow margin in a nearly complete count of votes after a presidential run-off election.

An official tally of 99.66 percent of ballots showed Rousseff with 51.60 percent of valid votes and Neves with 48.40 percent.

In a victory speech shortly after in Brasilia, Rousseff said she hoped to be a better president in her second term and said she was determined to undertake reforms and changes that the Brazillian society demands. Neves conceded defeated to Rousseff in a speech to his supporters.

Opinion polls before the results were announced gave Rousseff a four-percent to six-percent lead, although Sunday's election remained too close to call until the last minute.

Rousseff will face a declining economy in recession and rising inflation which has broken the government's own target ceiling of 6.5 percent.

Rousseff will also have to deal with public frustration over shoddy public services and endemic corruption.

Brazil's most competitive presidential campaign in decades has also been the most acrimonious in recent memory, dominated by attack ads and a steady drum beat of corruption allegations.

The bitter campaign has emphasised a clash between classes in a country still riven by inequality. Rousseff's team relentlessly portrayed Neves, a third-generation politician, as a heartless playboy with little concern for the poor.

Rousseff led the first round earlier in October with 41.5 percent compared to 33.6 percent for Neves. Prominent environmentalist Marina Silva was in third place with just 21 percent of the votes.

In Rio de Janeiro, more than a thousand Workers party supporters braved driving rain to gather under the arches in Lapa, where they watched the results come in on a giant screen. As Rousseff’s victory flashed up, they erupted in cheers, waved campaign flags, danced and chanted, “Olé, olé, olé, olé, Dilma, Dilma!”

“This is good for Brazil,” said one campaigner, Vinicius Barchilon. “Dilma has done a lot for the poor and we have a government that is determined to tackle inequality.”