Iolando Lourenço       Reporter Agência Brasil

Brasília – With the resignation of Mário Negromonte, the Dilma Rousseff administration announced the appointment of federal deputy, Aguinaldo Ribeiro (PP-PB) as the new minister of Cities. Ribeiro, a first-term deputy, was the leader of the PP in the Chamber of Deputies. The ministry he will head controls the Minha Casa, Minha Vida program (low-cost housing for the poor), with a budget of R$7.7 billion.

In his letter of resignation, Negromonte denied charges of corruption calling them baseless and blaming political infighting. The minister was accused of favoritism in the use of public funds and document fraud. In the letter, Negromonte says he will return to his seat in the Chamber of Deputies and support the government.

Since last June, Negromonte is the sixth cabinet member to leave the government under a cloud of corruption charges.

Allen Bennett – translator/editor The News in English

Link - Negromonte diz que foi vítima de disputa política e denúncias infundadas

Link - Dilma confirma Aguinaldo Ribeiro como novo ministro das Cidades