BRAZILIAN President Dilma Rousseff asked for patience today as the country deals with a flagging economy and a widening corruption probe involving the state-run oil company and dozens of top politicians.

Ms Rousseff insisted that her government would fix a serious fiscal problem, having posted a primary budget deficit for the first time in more than a decade.

“You have every right to be angry and worried, but I ask for patience and understanding because this situation is temporary,” she said in a 15-minute TV message.

Ms Rousseff briefly alluded to the bribery investigation involving state oil giant Petrobras that has kept the country on edge for days.

Last week, the attorney g eneral expanded the probe to include 54 top politicians.

Ms Rousseff assured the country that she has learned that she must “bring the corrupt to justice with a heavy hand.”

Prosecutors claim that the country’s largest construction and engineering firms paid at least £530 million in bribes and other funds to Petrobras executives and politicians in exchange for inflated contracts.

Ms Rousseff has not been implicated in the scandal but her popularity has suffered because of her closeness to Petrobras, having led its board for several years.

While the scandal creates friction between the president and the legislative chambers — Ms Rousseff’s allies feature prominently on the scrutiny list — Brazil desperately needs to pass Bills to reduce tax breaks and decrease its debt.

The country’s economy is stalling into recession as the Petrobras investigation spreads across vital industries and ensnares powerful politicians.

Credit-rating agency Moody’s downgraded the firm to “junk” status in February, citing an “increasing concern about corruption investigations.”

In a plea for unity to pass needed legislation, Ms Rousseff said that she is “sure we will have the decisive participation of the national congress, which has always fulfilled its historic role in the moments Brazil needed.”