Protests erupt in Brazil after ex-president Lula appointed to government's top echelon

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March 17, 2016 - 1:45PM

Arnaldo Galvao, Raymond Colitt and Anna Edgerton

Washington: Protests erupted in Brazilian cities on Wednesday evening after President Dilma Rousseff named her predecessor Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva as chief of staff and a taped telephone conversation between the two fed opposition claims the appointment was meant to shield Lula from prosecution.

Police said 2500 people demonstrated outside the presidential palace in the capital of Brasilia and others flocked to Sao Paulo's main Avenue Paulista and that of other cities. Dozens of opposition MPs interrupted a session of Congress, chanting for Rousseff to resign.

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Lula has immunity from all but the Supreme Court after his nomination as Rousseff's most influential ministerial position was published in a special edition of the Official Gazette. State prosecutors had charged him with money laundering and fraud, and asked for his arrest.

Federal Judge Sergio Moro, who oversees the sprawling corruption investigation and authorised the release of the phone tapping, said in a court filing released on Wednesday that the recording showed Lula and Rousseff considered trying to influence his inquiry. The surveillance recordings of Lula's phone were previously authorised as part of a sprawling corruption scandal that began with irregularities at state-run oil company Petrobras.

Judge Moro admitted there was no indication that any attempt to influence authorities was actually carried out. The recording, made public by the court, also has Rousseff offering to send Lula a copy of his appointment papers, "in case it was necessary." His opponents accused him of politicising the judiciary.

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Rousseff's opponents have said the appointment of Lula, a charismatic champion of the poor who remains one of Brazil's most influential figures six years after leaving office, was a desperate attempt to stave off impeachment proceedings and to spare the former president from arrest.

Rousseff said Lula was appointed for his experience and had a history of championing fiscal stability and combating inflation. She said his appointment did not mean he was above investigation as he could be tried by the country's Supreme Court.

Lula, Rousseff and her ministers have denied any wrongdoing. Lula's lawyer warned the release of the recording could result in a "social convulsion".

url: http://www.smh.com.au/world/former-brazilian-president-lula-returns-to-governments-top-echelon-20160316-gnkyaj.html