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Brazil ex-president Silva takes Cabinet post Brazil ex-president Silva takes Cabinet post
(about 9 hours later)
RIO DE JANEIRO — Former president Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva was named chief of staff to President Dilma Rousseff on Wednesday, a move that could help him avoid detention in expanding corruption probes that have ensnared the top of Brazil’s political leadership.RIO DE JANEIRO — Former president Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva was named chief of staff to President Dilma Rousseff on Wednesday, a move that could help him avoid detention in expanding corruption probes that have ensnared the top of Brazil’s political leadership.
Rousseff herself served as chief of staff under Lula from 2005 to 2010. It was a powerful role that projected her into the spotlight and led Lula to anoint her as his successor.Rousseff herself served as chief of staff under Lula from 2005 to 2010. It was a powerful role that projected her into the spotlight and led Lula to anoint her as his successor.
A dexterous political operator, Lula is seen as Rousseff’s best hope for shoring up support for the government and its agenda by sealing alliances with key centrist and right-wing parties in Congress and securing the support of social movements. He is also regarded as crucial to blocking impeachment proceedings against Rousseff over allegations of fiscal mismanagement.A dexterous political operator, Lula is seen as Rousseff’s best hope for shoring up support for the government and its agenda by sealing alliances with key centrist and right-wing parties in Congress and securing the support of social movements. He is also regarded as crucial to blocking impeachment proceedings against Rousseff over allegations of fiscal mismanagement.
Rumors of his appointment to a cabinet post surfaced after the former leader was taken by police this month to answer questions connected to the main corruption probe, which centers on the state-run oil company Petrobras. The appointment will make it harder for prosecutors to investigate Lula because only Brazil’s Supreme Court can authorize the investigation, imprisonment and trial of cabinet members and legislators. Rumors of his appointment to a cabinet post surfaced after the former leader was taken by police this month to answer questions connected to the main corruption probe, which centers on the state-run oil company Petrobras.
The appointment will make it harder for prosecutors to investigate Lula because only Brazil’s Supreme Court can authorize the investigation, imprisonment and trial of cabinet members and legislators.
The opposition reacted vehemently to Wednesday’s much-anticipated announcement.The opposition reacted vehemently to Wednesday’s much-anticipated announcement.
Another former president, Fernando Henrique Cardoso, blasted the appointment as “an error,” according to a report in the Folha de S.Paulo newspaper, and analysts have said that Lula’s appointment will weaken Rousseff.Another former president, Fernando Henrique Cardoso, blasted the appointment as “an error,” according to a report in the Folha de S.Paulo newspaper, and analysts have said that Lula’s appointment will weaken Rousseff.
An analysis piece in Folha de S.Paulo echoed the sentiment, saying Lula’s signing-in ceremony would effectively mark the end of Rousseff’s presidency. Police said about 2,000 people gathered Wednesday night outside the Planalto presidential palace in Brasilia to protest Silva’s nomination. Protesters also took to the streets of Brazil’s economic capital, Sao Paulo.
Lula was wildly popular when he left office , but his support has slipped along with Brazil’s economy and as the Petrobras corruption probe has implicated numerous members of his Workers’ Party.Lula was wildly popular when he left office , but his support has slipped along with Brazil’s economy and as the Petrobras corruption probe has implicated numerous members of his Workers’ Party.
The judge heading the corruption investigation on Wednesday released recordings of phone taps of Lula, which he said suggested attempts were made to influence prosecutors and judges in the former leader’s favor. In his filing, Judge Sergio Moro stressed there was no indication those attempts resulted in inappropriate actions.
Rousseff had been untouched by the turmoil, but the Supreme Court on Tuesday accepted a plea bargain by the party’s former leader in the Senate that alleged Rousseff at least knew about wrongdoing at Petrobras, which she formerly oversaw.Rousseff had been untouched by the turmoil, but the Supreme Court on Tuesday accepted a plea bargain by the party’s former leader in the Senate that alleged Rousseff at least knew about wrongdoing at Petrobras, which she formerly oversaw.
The scandal also has ensnared many opposition figures, including the speaker of the lower house, who has spearheaded efforts to impeach Rousseff.The scandal also has ensnared many opposition figures, including the speaker of the lower house, who has spearheaded efforts to impeach Rousseff.
Both Rousseff and Lula have repeatedly denied any wrongdoing.Both Rousseff and Lula have repeatedly denied any wrongdoing.
This week’s political turmoil, which has caused the stock market and the currency to fall sharply, came on the heels of nationwide protests against Rousseff and her Workers’ Party that brought an estimated 3 million people onto the streets on Sunday. Newspapers called them the biggest political demonstrations in Brazilian history.