Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff announced a major cabinet reshuffle and limited salary cuts for top government officials in a bid to shore up her power base.Ms. Rousseff cut eight ministries and 3,000 workers in a nod to austerity.
As part of public sector cost-cutting measures, she trimmed her own salary and that of deputy ministers Brazilian news website G1 reported.
She trimmed her own salary by 10%, along with those of the vice president and the heads of Brazil’s remaining 31 ministries. She said 20% of her administration’s costs will also be axed.
The move appeared to express solidarity with less privileged sectors of the society that have seen social programs curtailed as the government reacted to an economic slowdown by implementing unpopular austerity measures.
Rousseff also dissolved or combined ministerial posts, bringing the total from 39 to 31, and gave the Brazilian Democratic Movement Party (PMDB), a key group that was threatening to abandon her ruling left-leaning coalition, a larger cabinet presence.
Rousseff’s Workers’ Party (PT) continued to hold the most number of cabinet posts, or nine, but the PMDB, the party of her vice president Michel Temer, picked up the portfolio of the new Ministry of Health out of a total of seven. The remainder were distributed among minority political groups.
At a ceremony at the presidential headquarters of Planalto, Rousseff acknowledged the changes were designed to secure congressional support for her administration, and bolster political stability to meet the challenges of the economic crisis.
“This reform aims to update the government’s political base. We are making a more balanced coalition. This is a legitimate measure by a coalition government. We need to build an atmosphere of congressional cohesion and dialogue,” said Rousseff.
Hopefuly president lungu will do the same
The Brazilian president has a vision. Our Edgar does not have one. Even Uluru in Kenya next door cut perks for ministers, our will increase ministries even when he has no capacity to pay
Zambians have a very low self esteem. This article is about gaining political clout rather than fixing the Brazilian economy. Millions of Brazilians want Roussef To resign or impeached and are holding demonstrations in droves. But like a typical politician she is dressing a gun wound with a band-aid.
The Brazilian economy has gone to the DOGs. Basic commodities prices are sky rocketing. Cutting 8 ministerial jobs is an insult to the Brazilians. she has no vision whatsoever and her election victory was based on an illusion by the government of a good performing economy!
Cont; FACT; The Brazilian Real has dropped 15% against the dollar this year alone.
Fact; Brazlian debt has been reduced to junk status by S&P.
Fact; 30,000 signatures where collected per hour in favor of Rousseff’s impeachment in September.
Fact; President Rousseff’s approval ratings are in the single digits.
Fact; Brazil will continue down a recession despite any austerity measures being taken now.
So before you hold a ” let’s bash Lungu party” or ” compare and contrast” know what you are talking about. Better yet have some dignity and pride as people!
When are people going to understand that Governments don’t produce wealth but rather the people by being productive. So instead of doing nothing and remaining poor hoping voting in a new president will make you rich, get up and grow some vegetables for sale. And don’t take that money from the vegetables to the bar. Invest it in some chicken rearing. Hope you get my gist!
In Zambia as the kwacha tumbles and economy weakens our ‘very wise’ leaders are increasing the number of ministries…pursueing another costly by election in Kasama, …and hell will freeze over the day a Zambian president,minster or MP reduces their salary
thats what a president who has the love and compassion of his/her do.zambia pf is doing the opposite of what brazil has done.at prayer will solve our problems.the only miracle GOD wants is like what the people of NENIVA DID,they repented of their sins and asked GOD for mercy,pf won’t do this.
meant country does
Somebody send this article to the President or one of his advisors.
My Zanbia; Lets be objective here, & look at the bigger picture, or else we continue being deluded.
Do You honestly expect anything positive/ of value to come from advisors like;
Kaizer Zulu, Davies Chama, or Chishimba Kambwili??
ZAMBIA IS DEAD, with these CL0wns who cannot even manage a school tuckshop, being allowed to govern a sovreign nation.
HOWLONG HAVE WE BEEN PREACHING TO LUNGU ABOUT THE BLOATED SIZE OF HIS DYSFUNCTIONAL CABINET. TIMES ARE HARD WE DONT NEED ALL THOSE DEPUTY MINISTERS AND SOME OF THE FULL CABINET MINISTERS COULD DOUBLE UP ON THEIR FUNCTIONS. SIMPLE ANALOGY ” WHEN WINTER HITS EVEN TREES SHADE OFF SOME OF THEIR LEAVES AND ONLY RETAIN WHAT THEY NEED FOR EFFECTIVE FUNCTION.” NOT THAT THE LEAVES THAT FALL OFF HAVE NO FUNTION BUT NATURES DOES WHAT IT HAS TO FOR EFFECTIVE FUNCTION. OPTIMIZATION OF GOVERNMENT FUNCTION SHOULD BE IMPLEMENTED. TRIM CABINET AND CUT COST WHEREVER POSSIBLE. PART OF THE REASON PF IS FAILING IS BECAUSE LUNGU IS TOO STUBBORN TO HEED ADVICE.
I like that one. BRAVOOO!!! EXCELLENT MOVE
And tHis is a country much richer than Zed. Its cutting cabinet portfolios. Its GDP is 10 times Zambia’s and has a GDP per capita? of ?US$12,789. Why do we need to create more ministries?
This lady is fighting for her political life, having narrowly won recently (sounds familiar) and facing severe economic pressure (familiar as well). She has responded well by cutting fiscal fat. In Zambia, the president moved in the opposite direction. One wonders whether these PF guys really understand the severity of our problems.
The Zambian President has asked for National prayers instead…
Global response to global problems, not the useless Mr visionless Global problems Edgar. Her responses shows the difference between the manager and the casual worker. At because of global problems,so what are you doing about it.
When govt says things are bad everywhere you refuse and instead of acknowledging you answer back with insults. Bloggers we all live overseas and are seeing how things are getting bad. Zambia however is reacting to this by way of fighting the economic crisis while Brazil just want to survive it by economizing what they have. In short they are passing the burden to the people instead of cushioning it.
@Sponge bob. How exactly is Zambia “fighting the economic crisis..”?????
39 ministries to 31 ministries indeed it was a blotted government!! The President did a great thing to merge the ministries.
Mr president please reduce the number of ministries and cut your big pay cheques by 20%. Chimbwili Kashimba’s should be slashed 30% until the economy stabilizes.
This is what leadership means…to put others and the interest of the nation first than otherwise. Zambia can learn and the Politicians in power don’t be too quick to defend yourself but listen what is good for the nation
Deputy ministers are very irrelevant , permanent secretaries are better placed to assist full cabinet ministers since they execute government duties on the ground, Better give one ministry two or three PS to handle departments in similar categories like education,high education ,technical education etc. may be provincial deputy ministers but all in all we need to look at the economic situation and put up austerity measures including cutting irrelevant ministries