Dilma Roussef, backed by Lula

Ever since President Lula won the first of his two Presidential elections in 2002, Brazil has grown from strength to strength, while his social policies targeted the poor, bringing millions out of poverty and from welfare to workfare, contributing towards the economy. Today Brazil has proudly announced that it has surpassed the average world GDP per capita. Do we pay attention to the sunshine today or the clouds on tomorrow's horizon?

The president and the prime minister of Russia still do not exclude a possibility to participate in the presidential election in 2012. Putin was the first to announce his intention during his marathon performance on television yesterday, December 3. Several hours later, President Medvedev made a similar announcement at a new conference in Rome.

Putin mentioned such an opportunity twice during the question-and-answer conference. A man offered Putin to leave big politics and enjoy life, to which Putin responded: "Don't hold your breath." Another question, particularly about the election of 2012, followed some time later. Putin said that he would think about the opportunity.   

Ukrainian President Viktor Yushchenko said he will not accept the post of the country's prime minister in case his main political opponent Viktor Yanukovych wins the country's presidential election. According to a survey by the Ukraine Public Opinion Foundation released on Monday, Yanukovych, the leader of the opposition Party of Regions, is leading polls in Ukraine ahead of the January 17 presidential elections.