06.02.12 Brazil Focus
Another Brazilian minister resigns in corruption probe
The government of Brazil's president Dilma Rousseff has seen another ministerial resignation in an ongoing investigation into
allegations of corruption.
The resignation of Mario Negromonte, Minister for Cities, stepped down on 2 February after intense media
allegations that his office inflated the costs of transport projects for the
2014 World
Cup. He is the seventh minister to quit in the past thirteen months over claims
of
corruption – all the ministers have denied the accusations.
When allegations of wrongdoing in the ministry first surfaced last year,
Negromonte promised an internal inquiry. However the accusations continued,
including a
claim that his executive secretary met with a businessman who was seeking to
bid
for a transport project for the World Cup. Media investigations have claimed
that Negromonte was favouring companies which funded his Progressive Party.
His replacement will be the leader of the Progressive Party, Aguinaldo Ribeiro. Ribeiro has already come under criticism for his alleged nepotistic practices.
He has sought to push forward a housing programme in the city of Pilar, where
his mother is mayor.
Negromonte's decision marks yet another change for the Brazilian cabinet. Some
have speculated that Rousseff has been using the wave of resignations to
strengthen her own power base in the Cabinet at the expense of smaller
coalition
parties. Reuters reported that the president was unimpressed by Negromonte's
abilities.
Sources: Wall Street Journal, BBC