Stormy forecast for President Rousseff ten-party ruling coalition

Thursday, July 14th 2011 - 07:17 UTC

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Paulo Sergio Passos will manage billions of US dollars in contracts

Brazilian president Dilma Rousseff is facing further political unrest in the ruling coalition following the naming of a new Transport Minister, apparently a unilateral decision that was not shared by several allies.

President Rousseff named this week Paulo Sergio Passos as the new Transport minister following the sacking of Alfredo Nascimento, accused of being involved in a “millionaire corruption ring” demanding a percentage from contractors, with the complicity from the grouping to which he belonged, conservative Party for the Republic, PR.

“Our party was left aside and marginalized” on the naming or Minister Paulo Sergio Passos, “it was the president who decided without consulting us”, said Lincoln Portela head of the PR block in Congress.

“PR continues as a member of the ruling coalition” in spite of “comments” regarding the nomination of Passos, added the PR lawmaker.

The Workers Party from President Rousseff is supported in Congress and the cabinet by ten different parties from the entire political arch.

According to O’Globo and Folha de Sao Paulo, members of PR went as far as considering the possibility of abandoning the coalition because of the loss of space generated by the ousting of Nascimento from Transport, one of the government ministries with greatest budget plus a strategic piece of the Growth Acceleration Program, a pet project of President Rousseff involving tens of billions of dollars.

Only six months in office, the Brazilian President Rousseff has faced two serious political and cabinet crises for alleged corruption practices and enrichment.

During the first incident cabinet chief Antonio Palocci, considered a first line political negotiator had to step down unable to explain the fantastic multiplication of his personal fortune through an advisory agency.

Nevertheless the Brazilian president played the victim and said she feels “sad” about the mistakes committed by her government.

“There are days when I’m sad when something goes wrong in government. You can see we have many difficulties, but Brazil has more motives to be happy than sad because we perceive Brazil is a different country”, said Ms Rousseff on the launching of the families’ vegetable garden project which has 10billion US dollars in funds.

Categories: Economy, Politics, Brazil.

Tags: Alfredo Nascimento, Brazil, Dilma Rousseff, Paulo Sergio Passos, Workers' Party (Brazil).

Top Comments

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GeoffWard2
Sacking one - after another - after another - after another, as each known corruption becomes too public for comfort, is no way to manage a Government or a coalition.

The perpetrators are well known by those 'in the know' - and that is especially true for Dilma, who has been aware and appraised of these activities over many years.

Courage is what is needed.

Courage to DECLARE to the politicians and the public servants of Brasil that THIS is where the line is. Step over it and you are 'dead' - politically and in terms of future government employ.

I firmly believe the Presidenta WANTS to do this, but she needs a nucleus of importantly placed, uncontaminated people around her before she can make it happen.

The massive hike in politicians' salaries SHOULD have been the time to say “I give you this, this is what you earn, this is ALL you will take home, any corruption from this day forward will be a prison sentence in the common-man's jail with no remissions and no appeals”.
Jul 14th, 2011 - 05:56 pm 0
Forgetit87
Wow, how inspiring, Geff. Ever thought of becoming a speech writer? Seriously, I've got goosebumps.
Jul 14th, 2011 - 11:08 pm 0
GeoffWard2
Funny, that. Yes, I have been a speech writer; and a speech presenter.

Lecturers/professors are frequently asked to do the public speaking thing using their own material.
Because of my disciplines of environmental academic study I frequently presented on bio/geographical/legal/political/economic aspects of ambiental importance to general audiences.

But I would prefer to hear your comments on the substance, not the style:

Have you got your own opinions about how Brasil should go about erradicating state corruption?

I would certainly like to hear them,
and in some detail too, if you have thought them through.
Jul 15th, 2011 - 08:29 am 0

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