Americas News

Rousseff gets new chief of staff after corruption scandal

Jun 8, 2011, 17:43 GMT

Brasilia - Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff got a new government chief of staff Wednesday, after Antonio Palocci resigned due to a corruption scandal.

Rousseff chose Senator Gleisi Hoffmann, 45, a lawyer with less than a year's experience as a legislator, to replace Palocci, who resigned late Tuesday in a crisis between the government and its allies in Congress.

As Hoffmann was sworn in, Rousseff stressed that her government would not be paralyzed by a 'loud and not always fair opposition.'

She praised Palocci, her closest advisor so far, as a 'friend' and a 'dear comrade.'

'I thank him for everything he did for the government, for me, for Brazil,' she said.

Palocci staunchly denied allegations of corruption. His wealth allegedly multiplied by 20 between 2006 and 2010, while he was serving as a federal legislator and coordinating Rousseff's election campaign. However, he denied any wrongdoing.

While the case remained under investigation, his exit was seen as a way out of a political crisis that had virtually paralyzed legislative activity for weeks.

'I came (into the government) to promote dialogue and I leave to help preserve it,' he said.

Palocci had previously resigned as finance minister in 2006, also amid allegations of corruption.

Hoffmann is the wife of another member of Rousseff's Cabinet, Communications Minister Paulo Bernardo.

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