10 new ministers take office in Brazil

RIO DE JANEIRO, Apr. 10 (Xinhua) -- Ten new ministers took office in a ceremony in Brasilia on Tuesday, presided over by President Michel Temer.

The new cabinet appointments were made as several ministers quit to run in the general elections scheduled for October. Brazil will elect a new president, state governors, federal and state representatives and two-thirds of the senate. All offices have a four-year term, except for the senate, which has an eight-year term.

The most significant change is the departure of Finance Minister Henrique Meirelles, who will possibly run for presidency of the ruling Brazilian Democratic Movement (MDB) party.

With Temer recently expressing his intention to seek re-election, it has led to some tension in the party. Meirelles reportedly does not intend to be Temer's running mate and has no interest in becoming vice president.

Meirelles was replaced by Eduardo Guardia. The other new ministers who took office were Rossieli Soares (Education Ministry), Alberto Beltrame (Social Development), Esteves Colnago (Planning), Leandro Cruz Froes da Silva (Sports), Vinicius Lummertz (Tourism), Wellington Moreira Franco (Mines and Energy), Antonio de Padua de Deus (National Integration), Marcos Jorge de Lima (Industry and Trade), and Helton Yomura (Labor).

The new Human Rights Minister, Gustavo Rocha, did not take part in the ceremony due to a previous engagement at the National Prosecutors Council, of which he is a member. Enditem