Rouseff is victor in the Brazilian election, but in an almost evenly split vote.  In the past three decades, one three incumbents in Latin American countries have lost.  Rouseff provided generous support to the poor of her country.  In turn, poor areas in the north and northeast of the country voted overwhelmingly for her.  On her watch, unemplyment has been low, wages on the rise and the inequality gap closed somewhat.

Rouseff has been mired in an investigation into bribes by Petrobras, the state-controlled oil giant.  A Congress of 28 parties up from 22 will be unwieldy to manage.  The Petrobras scandal will not go away.  And high inflation and lack of competitiveness will hound Rouseff.  Protests of 2013 against political corruption may rise again.