Brazil justice minister refuses cabinet reshuffle

Former Justice Minister Osmar Serraglio did not accept President Michel Temer's invitation to assume office as transparency ministry Sunday (May 28).

Temer announced he would swap the leaders of the two ministries, and invited Serraglio, who had been in the post since March. Serraglio would take the reins of the ministry led by Torquato Jardim, who in turn would head the Ministry of Justice.

Serraglio's press office disclosed the rejection letter sent Tuesday (30) to the president, in which he further states he will take back his post as congress member in the lower house. “I am returning to the Chamber of Deputies, where I will resume my work in favor of the Brazil we want,” the letter reads.

Even though the announcement was made on May 28 in a note to the presidential palace, the dismissals and appointments have not been published in the Official Gazette yet.

Serraglio is now to take back his chair as deputy, which had been occupied by his substitute Rodrigo Rocha Loures, from the northern state of Pará, also of the ruling Brazilian Democratic Movement Party, the PMDB.

One of Temer's former adviser, Loures was caught in flagrante delicto by the Federal Police carrying a suitcase with approximately $153 thousand which is believed to have been sent as kickback money by executive Joesley Batista, owner of meatpacker JBS.

Translated by Fabrício Ferreira