RIO DE JANEIRO (AP) – Officials of Brazil’s governing party said Wednesday that former President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva has been named chief of staff to current President Dilma Rousseff – a move that could help Silva avoid possible detention in expanding corruption probes that have ensnared the top of Brazil’s political leadership.
Jose Guimaraes, head of the Workers Party delegation in the lower house of Congress, posted on Twitter that Silva is the new No. 2 in Rousseff’s Cabinet. Party president Rui Falacao said on Twitter that Silva, whom he referred to as the “minister of hope,” would be sworn in on Tuesday.
Rousseff herself served as chief of staff under Silva from 2005-2010. It was a powerful role projected her into the spotlight and led Silva to anoint her as his successor.
A report on G1, the Internet portal of the Globo television network, said the current chief of staff, Jaques Wagner, will become the head of her office.
Rumors of Silva’s possible appointment surfaced after the former leader was taken to a police station this month to answer questions connected to the corruption probe, which centers on the state-run oil company Petrobras.