Brazil's Social Communications Minister Resigns After Criticisms of the Government Leaked

03/26/2015 - 09h27

Brazil's Social Communications Minister Thomas Traumann has resigned, little more than a week after the leak of an internal document criticizing the government's communication strategy, which highlighted the use of "robots" to publish content favorable to the Federal Government on social networks.

The Ministry of Social Communication (Secom) is responsible for liaising between the government and the press, as well as for internal and external communication. One of its most important duties is to manage funds for publicity.

Traumann's resignation had been expected. The document, for which he was responsible, criticized the Rousseff administration's management of the recent crisis, talking of "political chaos." It was then leaked to the newspaper "O Estado de S. Paulo", providing ammunition for the opposition.

Secom's analysis also touched on President's Rousseff's reelection campaign, and admitted the use of "robots" to spread information favorable to the government on the social networks.

The document said "Dilma and Lula voters are used to fighting with their cellphone in their hand, while the opposition bashes cooking pots, spreads messages through WhatsApp and dresses in green and yellow. It is possible to reclaim the social networks, but before that, we have to reclaim the streets."

Translated by TOM GATEHOUSE

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	Alan Marques - 19.dez.14/Folhapress
	Social Communications Minister Thomas Traumann resigned on Wednesday (25)