Brazilian president appoints new head of cabinet
Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva appointed Energy and Mining Minister Dilma Rousseff as minister chief of staff on Monday.

"The president invited Dilma Rousseff to occupy the post of cabinet chief and she accepted (the offer)," Lula's spokesman Andre Singer said at a news conference.

Rousseff, 55, replaces Jose Direceu, who presented resignation to Lula last Thursday over a scandal.

A congressman revealed that the ruling Workers' Party paid monthly "allowances" to lawmakers in exchange for their votes on government bills. Direceu was accused of doing nothing to stop the scheme while he had knowledge of it.

Rousseff is an economist and former member of left-wing parties.

Mauricio Tolmasquim, head of Brazil's energy research agency and Rousseff's former deputy, will work as interim energy minister, Singer said.