But Lula's only immediate appointment was to put Antonio Palocci in charge of his transition team.

ECONOMIST: Brazil's presidential election

Things are going so well that Antonio Palocci, the finance minister, recently resurrected the unpopular idea of giving the central bank formal independence.

ECONOMIST: Small rows and better economic numbers

The top tip for the finance ministry is Antonio Palocci, the youngish former mayor of a city in Sao Paulo's farm belt, who now heads the transition team.

ECONOMIST: Brazilian politics: The fun stops here | The