Brazil Political crisis: Minister José Dirceu leaves the government
{{date|June 16, 2005}}

The [[Brazil]]ian Minister of Civil Affairs [[w:José Dirceu|José Dirceu]] announced this evening his resignation from the government of President [[w:Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva|Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva]].

During his discourse José Dirceu said that he will return to his earlier position as a representative in the national congress allied with the Workers Party. He said that he will defend the government against those "who want to interrupt the democratic process and want to destabilize the government of president Lula". He said that he is leaving with "clean hands",  "a heart without bitterness" and with "a raised head".

Dirceu is the victim of a serious political crisis in Brazil because of accusations of governmental corruption. Dirceu was one of the most important ministers in President Lula's government.

The crisis worsened after declarations of [[w:Roberto Jefferson|Roberto Jefferson]], president of the PTB, a party allied with the PT.
This Tuesday, Jefferson said to a Congressional Commission that minister José Dirceu and the President of the [[w:Workers' Party (Brazil)|Workers' Party]], [[w:José Genoíno|José Genoíno]], were involved in the payment of bribes to Brazilian congressional representatives.

{{haveyoursay}}
== Related news ==
{{Original reporting}}
*{{wikinews|title=Lula's future in the hands of Brazilian Parliament|date=June 12, 2005}}
*{{wikinews|title=New denunciations of political corruption create severe political crisis in Brazil|date=June 6, 2005}}
*{{wikinews|title=Corruption endangers Brazilian government|date=May 29, 2005}}

== Sources ==
*{{source|url=http://news.webindia123.com/news/showdetails.asp?id=89210&cat=World
 |title=Brazil: Chief of staff resigns
 |author=
 |pub=UPI
 |date=June 17, 2005}}
*{{source|url=http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/english/doc/2005-06/17/content_452334.htm
 |title=Brazil's cabinet chief of staff resigns
 |author=
 |pub=Agencies, China Daily
 |date=June 17, 2005}}
*{{source|url=http://ap.tbo.com/ap/breaking/MGBPFM3M1AE.html
 |title=Brazil's Cabinet Chief of Staff Resigns Amid Vote-Buying Scandal
 |author=Eraldo Peres
 |pub=AP
 |date=June 16, 2005}}
*{{source|url=http://www.pt.org.br/site/noticias/noticias_int.asp?cod=35868
 |title=Íntegra do discurso de José Dirceu
 |author=
 |pub=Partido dos Trabalhadores
 |date=June 16, 2005}}
*{{source|url=http://www.radiobras.gov.br/materia_i_2004.php?materia=229353&q=1&editoria=
 |title=José Dirceu anuncia afastamento da Casa Civil
 |author=Nelson Motta e Ana Paula Marra
 |pub=Radiobras
 |date=June 16, 2005}}
*{{source|url=http://www.estadao.com.br/nacional/noticias/2005/jun/16/168.htm
 |title=José Dirceu pede demissão
 |author=Fabíola Salvador
 |pub=O Estado de São Paulo
 |date=June 16, 2005}}
*{{source|url=http://www1.folha.uol.com.br/folha/brasil/ult96u69722.shtml
 |title=Após escândalo do "mensalão, José Dirceu deixa ministério da Casa Civil
 |author=Ana Paula Ribeiro  
 |pub=Folha de São Paulo
 |date=June 16, 2005}}
*{{source|url=http://edition.cnn.com/2005/WORLD/americas/06/14/brazil.scandal.reut/
 |title=Official: Brazil aide to quit amid scandal
 |author=Nelson Motta and Ana Paula Marra
 |pub=Reuters
 |date=June 14, 2005}}

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[[Category:Politics and conflicts]]
[[Category:South America]]
[[Category:Brazil]]
[[Category:2005 Political crisis in Brazil]]

[[es:Ministro José Dirceu pide dimisión del gobierno Lula]]
[[pt:Ministro José Dirceu pede demissão do governo Lula]]
The Brazilian Minister of Civil Affairs José Dirceu announced this evening his resignation from the government of President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva.

During his discourse José Dirceu said that he will return to his earlier position as a representative in the national congress allied with the Workers Party. He said that he will defend the government against those "who want to interrupt the democratic process and want to destabilize the government of president Lula". He said that he is leaving with "clean hands",  "a heart without bitterness" and with "a raised head".

Dirceu is the victim of a serious political crisis in Brazil because of accusations of governmental corruption. Dirceu was one of the most important ministers in President Lula's government.

The crisis worsened after declarations of Roberto Jefferson, president of the PTB, a party allied with the PT.
This Tuesday, Jefferson said to a Congressional Commission that minister José Dirceu and the President of the Workers' Party, José Genoíno, were involved in the payment of bribes to Brazilian congressional representatives.

es:Ministro José Dirceu pide dimisión del gobierno Lula
Ministro José Dirceu pede demissão do governo Lula
Politics and conflicts South America Brazil 2005 Political crisis in Brazil