Lula not to run Rousseff's ministry, says Senate President

Dampening speculation intensified in the past few days, former President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva said Wednesday (Mar. 9) he does not intend to take over any ministry of Rousseff's government. Information was disclosed by Senate President Renan Calheiros, who received the former president at the Senate official residence for breakfast with senators from several parties in the governing coalition. The meeting lasted about three hours.

"We clearly have no information on this hypothesis. During conversation, he said he wants to help Brazil and the government and that in order to do this, he does need not be appointed minister. He can do this anyway," reported Calheiros, noting that Lula denied during the meeting to have received any invitation from President Rousseff.

Also according to the Senate president, during the meeting, Lula heard evaluations, feeling vented, and concerns from lawmakers about the country's political and economic crises, and said he is willing to talk with parliamentarians from parties in the governing coalition and even from the opposition.

Calheiros also said that the conversation set a tone of unity to tackle the crisis and that "similar meetings" with the former presidents, José Sarney and Fernando Henrique Cardoso, should also be arranged.

Translated by Amarílis Anchieta