Orlando Silva, Brazil’s sports minister, resigned Wednesday amid a corruption investigation, marking the fifth top official to step down following graft allegations in less than a year.
Silva’s resignation also renews concerns about the readiness of Brazil to host both the World Cup in 2014 and the Olympics in 2016. (The Wall Street Journal’s report on his stepping down here.) Silva quit after allegations first raised in a Brazilian news magazine that public funds for ministry projects involving recreational activities for underprivileged youth were kicked back to the minister and his associates for further contracts.
He denied the allegations, calling the former police officer accusing him of taking money a “delinquent.” The resignation, according to the Journal, came at the request of President Dilma Rousseff, who last week said she presumed his innocence but was monitoring the situation.
Rousseff’s administration is all of 10 months old; she has seen six cabinet-level officials leave already; five, including Silva, have stepped down due to corruption allegations.
