Brazil party endorses candidate

**The governing Workers’ Party in Brazil has endorsed the president’s chief of staff as its candidate for presidential elections in October.**Economist Dilma Rousseff was personally nominated by President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, who is prevented by electoral law to stand for a third term.

She promised fiscal discipline and economic stability if elected.

But correspondents say she faces tough competition from the conservative opposition.

After the endorsement was announced, she said: "I humbly receive this mission that you are giving to me.

“* with humility, but also with courage and determination. Courage and determination which come from the support that I receive from my party and from its most distinguished member, President Lula.”

Under electoral law, Ms Rousseff must step down from her current post by 3 April, six months before the election.

She said she wants to form a coalition government, and would continue working with President Lula’s current coalition of 11 parties.*