New era for Brazil as Rousseff cedes power to Temer

Brazil entered a new era on Thursday as interim president Michel Temer took power from suspended leader Dilma Rousseff, installing a business-friendly government that ends 13 years of leftist rule in Latin America's biggest nation.

Brazilian Interim President Michel Temer.

The centre-right former vice president wasted no time in putting his stamp on Brazil, naming a new government he said would restore "credibility" after months of economic and political turmoil. One key nomination was a respected former central bank chief, Henrique Meirelles, for finance minister, with the task of helping the huge economy claw out of the deepest recession in decades.


"We must significantly improve the business environment for the private sector," Temer said in the presidential palace just hours after Rousseff left, amid emotional scenes, to start her six-month suspension pending an impeachment trial on charges that she broke government accounting rules.

"It is urgent to restore peace and unite Brazil," said Temer, 75, who at one point lost his voice while addressing allies and a crush of journalists.