Brazil in crisis after leaked tape forces out interim President’s ally



SAO PAULO: -- Brazil’s minister of planning Romero Juca has stepped aside over claims he conspired to obstruct the country’s biggest ever corruption scandal.

The minister, a close ally of interim president Michel Temer, was caught on a leaked tape where he appears to discuss wanting to derail the investigation.

The claim made by the newspaper Folha de Sao Paolo but Juca says his words were taken out of context.

In the transcript, It claims that Juca, says the impeachment was necessary to “staunch the bleeding” and that they needed to “stop everything”.

Mr Juma said: “I never committed any act which would obstruct any investigation. As such, I am very calm.”

Meanwhile thousands protested against Brazil’s interim president outside his Sao Paulo home.

Mr Juca’s move will be a blow for Mr Temer, who stepped in for President Dilma Rousseff after she was suspended on May 12 over claims she massaged the budget to hide a deficit.

The planning minister himself was one of the leading voices in the call for the impeachment of Rousseff.


-- (c) Copyright Euronews 2016-05-24

Geeze famous last words "My words were taken out of context"

Geeze famous last words "My words were taken out of context"

True, but probably true. Newspapers never let context stand in the way of a good story.