Brazil’s Justice Minister Quits; Affair With Official Reported

Brazilian Justice Minister Bernardo Cabral resigned Saturday after news reports that he was having an adulterous affair with a fellow Cabinet member.

Cabral, 58, in a televised news conference, cited strong personal reasons for his resignation without giving details.

Brazilian newspapers recently reported that Cabral, who is married, has been having an affair with Economy Minister Zelia Cardoso de Melo, who is single. The two ministers neither confirmed nor denied the reports.

President Fernando Collor de Mello accepted Cabral’s resignation and appointed Sen. Jarbas Passarinho, a leader of the right-wing Democratic Social Party, as justice minister. He will take office Monday.

Cabral’s resignation follows an article published in the influential Jornal do Brasil newspaper last Sunday that said a crisis was imminent because of the alleged affair.

The newspaper said the reported affair would result in the resignation of at least one of the two ministers.

Reports of the affair erupted after a 37th birthday party for Cardoso was given Sept. 19 in Brasilia. The behavior of the two ministers led journalists at the party to report that Cabral was Cardoso’s mystery lover.

The economy minister told reporters three months ago that she was in love, but she would not say with whom.

The press had reported that Collor was unhappy with Cabral’s performance as justice minister. However, when reports of the affair broke, Collor was concerned that a dismissal would be interpreted as being provoked by personal rather than professional reasons, press reports said.

The Jornal do Brasil last Sunday said Collor had asked a polling agency to survey Brazilians about the alleged affair. A majority surveyed were not aware of the affair but, of those who were, most said they did not condemn the ministers.

Cabral will return to Congress to complete his term as a representative in the Chamber of Deputies.

He is the second minister to resign since Collor took office in March. Agriculture Minister Joaquim Roriz resigned shortly after his appointment to stand for state office in elections held last week.