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The Brazilian Supremerejects charges against former minister Palocci

The judges of the Supreme Court decided by majority queno evidence against the former minister, who resigned in 2006por that case, but against Jorge Mattoso, former president of Caixa Economica laestatal, who was accused by the same case for the crime of yrespondera violation of bank secrecy.

Palocci was suspected of having ordered the bank lacuenta Francenildo scrutinized Santos Costa, the landlord of Brasilia unamansion in which the opposition said were business acordadosturbios with the government amid great orgies.

Dos Santos Costa reported that Palocci frequented these parties andthe prestige who was until then the strong man Brazilian economy's went downhill.

He said police have checked the bank account was revised delcasero illegally, apparently under presuncionde he had received money from the opposition to accuse Palocci.

Mattoso confessed he ordered an investigation into the account of the landlord, who was peroaseguro their own initiative and not under pressure delentonces minister.

Three years ago, in addition to these allegations, joined other Paloccise against corruption during his tenure as mayor of Ribeirao Preto CITY OF, a post he left in 2002 to coordinate electoral lacampana eventually led Lula to the presidency porprimera time.

The political pressure generated by such suspicions eventually forcing the resignation of Palocci Ministry of Finance in March 2006.

Last July, the Supreme Court closed for lack of Ribeirão Preto pruebasel case, so today's decision that former minister dejaal free of charges.

According to the ruling Workers' Party (PT), the Supreme fallodel Palocci opens the possibility of being run for governor of laestrategica State of Sao Paulo in elections de2010, which will also be elected a new president.

The former minister, even with the accusations against him, was elegidodiputado by that state in the elections October 2006, with foulbrood for many PT leaders, including Lula, has demonstrated arrastreque there.

However, Palocci could become the big surprise in presidential loscomicios Next year, in which Lula podraser no candidate having already been re-elected and the Constitution once again leimpide aspire to office.

According to some leaders of the PT, Palocci could be abanderadopresidencial of the coalition government if the laministra Dilma Rousseff candidacy was proposed by Lula, not ends in shooting inthe opinion polls, which so far is teamed ofa around 20 percent of voting intentions. EFE