Ana Paula Marra
Reporter Agência Brasil

Brasília -- Brazil's vice president and minister of Defense, José Alencar, has announced that he will leave the PL, saying that the main reason he will leave is the politicial crisis (members of the PL are accused of receiving a monthly allowance from the PT in exchange for voting with the government). Alencar reported that he had informed president Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva and the PL president, Valdemar Costa Neto, of his decision (Costa Neto resigned his seat in the Chamber of Deputies after being accused of receiving millions from the PT). Alencar denied that Costa Neto's resignation had anything to do with his decision.

"I really was not going to leave the PL, but the crisis has gotten worse. It is a grave national political crisis. I have been feeling uncomfortable and upset," explained Alencar, adding that he was not joining another party at the moment, just leaving the PL.

Translator: Allen Bennett