Brazil's Lula on verge of joining government

Brazil's ex-president Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva is about to join the government of his embattled protege and successor Dilma Rousseff, administration sources said Tuesday, as both seek to save their political lives.

"There are two possibilities for Lula in the government: chief of staff or cabinet secretary," an administration source told AFP, saying the former president would travel to Brasilia Monday or Tuesday to discuss his options with Rousseff in person.

Speculation had swirled in recent days that such a move was imminent, as both Lula and Rousseff's political stars waned.

He is facing charges in a case linked to a massive corruption scandal, and she faces an impeachment drive, a deep recession and mass protests.

If confirmed, the move would spare Lula from facing trial in ordinary court over money-laundering charges tied to the multi-billion-dollar scandal at state oil giant Petrobras.

Under Brazilian law, cabinet ministers can only be tried before the Supreme Court.

But the source denied the move was aimed at saving Lula from arrest.

"The aim is to help the president confront the impeachment process... (and) not to escape justice," the source said.

Citing administration sources, newspaper O Globo reported that Lula was prepared to accept a post on condition Rousseff agrees to overhaul her economic policy to make it "more focused on rebooting growth."

Brazil is stuck in its worst recession in decades, amplifying the problems facing Rousseff -- who, besides the fallout of the Petrobras scandal, faces mass protests and a congressional push to impeach her.

The reports came after some one million to three million Brazilians flooded the streets Sunday for nationwide protests calling for Rousseff's departure.

Lula -- her mentor and a co-founder of the ruling Workers' Party -- appears increasingly to be backed into a corner.

On Monday, Brazil's top anti-corruption judge took over the money-laundering case against him filed by Sao Paulo state prosecutors.

The judge, Sergio Moro, is spearheading of a massive investigation into the Petrobras scandal, which has upended the political and business worlds in Brazil.

Source: AFP