Sao Paulo swears in anti-corruption mayor

The new mayor has promised to tackle urban chaos

A left-leaning former sexologist has been sworn in as mayor of Brazil's financial capital and biggest city, Sao Paulo.

Marta Suplicy from the Worker's Party (PT) was elected in October on promises of rooting out corruption, which has left the city near financial collapse.

In the last eight years Sao Paulo was pulled apart, filth permeates all parts and the city became the image of abandonment

Marta Suplicy

She has also pledged to clean up the city's urban chaos and improve the lot of its poorest residents.

Correspondents say Mrs Suplicy's success will prove key in determining the fortunes of the PT in presidential elections scheduled for 2002.

Huge debts

Mrs Suplicy took over the mayorship from Celso Pitta, who faced a rash of corruption scandals.

Mr Pitta did not run in the October elections, but his conservative predecessor and political mentor, Paulo Maluf, did. Mrs Suplicy defeated him by obtaining 60% of the vote.

Marta and Eduardo Suplicy: New hope for the PT?

Taking office on New Year's Day, she promised to end corruption, which has left the city with debts of $10bn.

"In the last eight years Sao Paulo was pulled apart, filth permeates all parts and the city became the image of abandonment," she said.

"It's people were humiliated by corruption, demoralised by lacking education and health, disillusioned by their capacity to rein in the destruction of all places of civilised community life."

Family business

Mrs Suplicy, who shot to fame in Brazil by hosting a talk show about sex called Sexual Behaviour, was accompanied by her husband and senator for Sao Paolo state, Eduardo.

Eduardo Suplicy is expected to run for the presidency in the next elections.

Correspondents say that, with his wife as mayor in Brazil's biggest city, the PT should have the high-profile platform needed to make it a serious presidential contender, after its recent gains in local elections.