Government leader refers to Jobim as "ex"

Even before Nelson Jobim's resignation as Minister of Defense was officially announced, the government leader in the Chamber of Deputies, Cândido Vaccarezza (PT-SP), referred to him in an interview as a former member of Dilma Rousseff's administration. Vaccarezza praised Jobim's work, but stated that the implemented policy belongs to the government and not to the minister.

"There is no such thing as ministerial policy, there is only government policy. In a presidential system, policy is that of the head of state, and whoever the president chooses will continue this work," said Vaccarezza, who stressed that he was not yet officially aware of Jobim's departure.

The Defense Minister is expected to lose his job in the coming hours following a series of controversial statements. The pressure on him began when, on President Fernando Henrique Cardoso's 80th birthday, he criticized those who mistreat subordinates and said he was "surrounded by idiots." In another interview, he stated that he voted for José Serra for president last year.

The last straw, however, was Jobim's interview with Piauí magazine. The minister stated that his colleague from Institutional Relations, Ideli Salvatti, is "weak" and that the Chief of Staff, Gleisi Hoffmann, "doesn't even know Brasília." For Vaccarezza, the minister's entire work cannot be judged by these "unfortunate statements." When asked if Jobim's situation was untenable, the government leader joked: "If I answer this question, it's my situation that becomes untenable; enough of these unfortunate phrases."