Brazil's ruling coalition faces split as another minister quits

RIO DE JANEIRO, Dec. 8 (Xinhua) -- Brazil's Minister of Government Secretariat Antonio Imbassahy resigned Friday, a day before his party is expected to hold a critical national convention to decide whether to leave the ruling coalition of President Michel Temer.

Imbassahy is the second minister from the Brazilian Social Democratic Party (PSDB) to quit the cabinet.

With the presidential elections to be held in 2018, the PSDB has been distancing itself from Temer, who has had corruption charges leveled against him repeatedly.

Though the charges were dropped by the Chamber of Deputies, Brazil's lower house, many in the PSDB have expressed fears that staying with the beleaguered president may sink the party's chances in the 2018 elections.

The PSDB is Temer's largest ally. Earlier, Bruno Araujo, also from the PSDB, resigned as minister of cities. However, two of its members are still in the cabinet -- Aloysio Nunes, minister of foreign affairs, and Luislinda Valois, minister for human rights.

On Saturday, the PSDB will host its national convention in Brasilia, electing its new leadership and deciding whether to formally exit the government.

Geraldo Alckmin is expected to be chosen as the new leader as well as PSDB frontrunner in the presidential race. Alckmin has clearly said he wants the party to exit the government. Enditem