The reshuffle would “guarantee the political stability of the country” and “strengthen relations between the parties and members of parliament who support the government”, she added.
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Rousseff also dissolved or combined ministerial posts, bringing the total from 39 to 31, and gave the Brazilian Democratic Movement Party (PMDB), a key group that was threatening to abandon her ruling left-leaning coalition, a larger cabinet presence.
As part of public sector cost-cutting measures, she trimmed her own salary and that of deputy ministers by 10 percent, Brazilian news website G1 reported.
“It is nearly certain this will stop any impeachment process in the short run, but we have to check how well those reforms will be implemented”, said Luciano Dias, an analyst at the Brasilia-based Institute of Political Studies. But a few of them say the government should set more ambitious goals and look to other eco-systems still under heavy pressure in the country.
Brazil is facing its worst economic crisis for decades, leaving Ms Rousseff’s popularity at a record low.
“The reforms deepen the government’s lack of credibility”.
Joaquim Levy and Nelson Barbosa are keeping their jobs as finance and budget ministers, respectively.
“By altering a few of the ministers, we are making our coalition more balanced”, Rousseff said, vowing the changes would herald “a climate of dialogue”.
Rousseff, whose approval rating has fallen to less than 10 percent since being re-elected last October, has also taken a political hit from a massive contract-rigging and kickback scandal centered on state-controlled oil company Petrobras.
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Following the credit downgrade, Rousseff’s administration on September 14 unveiled a series of new budget proposals aimed at improving the country’s fiscal situation, including cuts to infrastructure investments and social spending and the revival of a financial transactions tax.
