10 Brazilian ministers step down to run for general elections

Ten Brazilian ministers on Wednesday quit their posts to join this year’s general elections.

Under Brazil’s electoral law, the deadline for departure from government positions is April 3, six months before the elections.

The most notable departing minister is Dilma Rousseff, who was handpicked by President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva as his successor.

Rousseff’s executive secretary Erenice Alves Guerra took over the presidency chief-of-staff post. Six other ministerial portfolios were also taken by executive secretaries in an effort to maintain continuity of the Lula administration.

These six ministries were transport, mines and energy, racial equality, environment, national integration and social security.

The ministers of agriculture, social development, and communications were taken over by outsiders.

Henrique Meirelles, governor of Brazil’s central bank, was asked by the president to remain and had one day to decide whether to resign to join the election campaign.

To be contested in this year’s elections are the presidency of the republic, all chamber of deputies seats, 54 of the federal senate seats, all the 26 state governorships and state legislatures.