SAO PAULO: Opposition presidential candidate Marina Silva said on Friday that Brazil's recession is very worrying and her government would work to restore the credibility of the country's policies to recover investment and growth.

The Brazilian economy fell into recession in the first half of the year, a heavy blow for President Dilma Rousseff's already diminishing hopes for re-election in October.

She spoke to reporters after launching her government program, which focuses on economic policies to restore growth after three years of lackluster performance. Silva, a former environment minister, threatens to unseat Rousseff and end 12 years of rule by the leftist Workers' Party.