Nelson Motta and Ana Paula Marra
Reporters Agência Brasil

Brasília - Presidential Chief of Staff (ministro-chefe da Casa Civil), José Dirceu, resigned last night and will return to the Chamber of Deputies where he represents the state of São Paulo.

The leader of the government in the Senate, Aloizio Mercadante (PT/SP) declared that Dirceu's decision to leave the government and return to the Congress was "a gesture of humility and political grandeur." Mercadante said that by doing so Dirceu protected the government and the party (PT), while giving himself time to prove his innocence. Dirceu has been accused by deputy Roberto Jefferson (PTB/RJ) of involvement in the payment of a monthly allowance to congressmen in the PL and PP to ensure that they would vote with the government.

Translator: Allen Bennett