Brazil’s President Shuffles Cabinet Ahead of Elections

Brazil’s Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva replaced eight members of his cabinet who stepped down to qualify as candidates for this October’s elections. Brazil will hold presidential, congressional and senatorial votes this year, as well as for state governors. Jacques Wagner stepped down as congressional liaison and is replaced by Tarso Genro, a former president of Lula’s Workers’ Party. Lula will depend heavily on Genro to get his budget passed this year and help fight back against long-running corruption allegations. Defence Minister Waldir Pires replaces Jose Alencar as vice president in the other major move.