Brazil’s now former Cities Minister Mário Negromonte

I’m sure Brazil’s President Dilma Rousseff is wondering what she’s done to deserve her cabinet.

Cities Minister Mário Negromonte brings to seven the number of ministers to have resigned since she took office in January 2011, all but one has left shrowded in accusations of taking bribes or being otherwise corrupt, including showing favouritism in the bidding process for public work contracts to a company loyal to their personal or political needs.

They are:

• Antônio Palocci, Dilma’s Chief of Staff – June 2011
• Alfredo Nascimiento, Transport Minister  – July 2011
• Wagner Rossi, Agriculture Minister – August 2011
• Pedro Novais, Minister for Tourism – September 2011
• Orlando Silva, Sports Minister – October 2011
• Carlos Lupi, Labor Minister – December 2011
• Mário Negromonte, Cities Minister – February 2012

All of the ministers have denied the allegations.

Defence Minister Nelson Jobim also resigned after remarks he made about his colleagues, rather than over accusations of corruption.