Brazilian president denies cabinet reform

Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff on Thursday denied that she planned to make a reform in her recently appointed cabinet.

The resignation of Education Minister Cid Gomes on Wednesday, after a heated discussion between the ministers and Congress members, prompted local media to speculate on other cabinet changes.

But Rousseff said Gomes' departure was an isolated incident and assured that she did not plan to make big changes to her cabinet.

Rousseff said a cabinet reform is not some kind of panacea which will magically resolve all of Brazil's problems.

Brazil is now going through an economic crisis as well as a political turmoil, with Rousseff's approval rate reaching 13 percent, the lowest point of her presidency.

"The press is making up a cabinet reform that just does not exist. I am making an isolated change," Rousseff said, saying the name of the new education minister will be announced "as soon as possible."

Rousseff added the education ministry will not be included in the allied parties' division. In other words, it will not be appointed to a member of a specific party. The new minister will be chosen with other criteria, Rousseff said.

"The education ministry will not be 'given' to any party. The education ministry is one of the most important ministries in this country, and I have committed to building a path for education in Brazil, making more steps forward than we have already given," she said. Endi