Obama Congratulates Rousseff on Brazil Poll Win

U.S. President Barack Obama congratulated his Brazilian counterpart Dilma Rousseff on her re-election Monday, the day after the left-wing incumbent won a narrow victory in a presidential run-off vote. 

"Brazil is an important partner for the United States and we are committed to continuing to work with President Rousseff to strengthen our bilateral relationship," the White House said.

"The president looks forward to calling President Rousseff in the coming days to congratulate her personally and discuss how we can increase our collaboration to promote global security, prosperity, and respect for human rights, and increased bilateral cooperation on education, energy, trade, and other issues of mutual interest," the statement added.

Rousseff won a bruising election after picking up enough middle-class votes in the industrialized southeast to cement a fourth straight win for her Workers' Party over right-wing challenger Aecio Neves.

The vitriolic campaign left the country deeply divided, mostly between the poor north and wealthier south. 

The 66-year-old former guerrilla will start her second four-year term on January 1 facing a laundry list of challenges, including governing a polarized country, winning back the confidence of markets and investors, rebooting the stagnant economy and tackling corruption.