Brazil’s ex-President Lula takes Cabinet post in bid to save embattled Rousseff

Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff on Wednesday appointed her predecessor and mentor, former President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, as her chief of staff in a move supporters say will help her fight impeachment proceedings and critics blast as scheme to shield the former leader from possible detention in corruption probes. Rousseff hailed the appointment, which capped days of intense speculation and hours-long meetings between the two leaders, saying she was “very happy with his arrival.”

His joining my government strengthens my government. Many people don’t want it to be strengthened. But he is coming and he’s coming to help.

Rousseff

Rumors of Silva’s appointment to a Cabinet post surfaced after the former leader was taken to a police station this month to answer questions connected to a sprawling investigation into corruption at the state-run oil company Petrobras. Wednesday’s appointment will make it harder for prosecutors to investigate Silva because only Brazil’s Supreme Court can authorize the investigation, imprisonment and trial of Cabinet members and legislators. Rousseff herself served as chief of staff under Silva from 2005-2010. That powerful role projected her into the spotlight and led Silva to anoint her as his successor.

Lula