26 May 2011

BRASIL: Dilma Defends Staffer Chief Palocci Over Lobbying Charges.

REUTERS/

    After two weeks of media hounding, President Dilma Rousseff is publicly defending her chief of staff Antonio Palocci...for the first time.
   "I want to assure you that Minister Palocci is giving all necessary explanations to audit agencies," Rousseff said.
     Palocci has been pressured to explain an alleged 20-fold increase in wealth as a consultant to businesses from 2007 to 2010...while still in the Congress.
     In 2006, Palocci quit as finance minister...because of a different ethics scandal.