Rousseff to consult with Public Prosecution Office before nominating ministers

President Dilma Rousseff said on Monday (Dec 22) she will appoint her new ministers by December 29, after having consulted with the Public Prosecution Office. “I'll hold a consultation for each one of my nominations,” she stated.

These consultations will focus on the names mentioned in the testimonies given under plea bargain by the people arrested as part of Operation  Car Wash, launched by the Federal Police to probe into illicit doings at Brazil's state-controlled oil giant Petrobras. During a breakfast with journalists, Rousseff announced that, after appointing cabinet members, she will nominate second-tier government officials, such as bank directors and heads of advisory agencies.

“Before having nominated the new minister of mines and energy, why should I appoint a councilor who's to answer to him?” she explained. Rousseff once again said she does not plan on replacing Petrobras's current CEO Graça Foster, whom she trusts. “I know Graça Foster; I know how trustworthy and honest she is. Anything against her should be proved,” she added.

The president maintained that investigations should continue, but described as “simplistic” all suspicions that Graça Foster was aware of any illicit actions because of occupying the highest position in the company. The same word was used to refer to the criticism against the appointment of politicians to certain positions. “I'm not going to demonize the nomination [of people affiliated with political parties]. That would be grotesque and simplistic. Brazil's problem doesn't lie in whether they're politicians or technicians. No one's above good and evil,” she declared.

Rousseff went on to say that “the amount of money [in the hands] of some of the employees was outrageous. I think all the ones involved in the scheme should be punished.”

Translated by Fabrício Ferreira