Senator Geraldo Mesquita Júnior (PMDB-AC) announced, on Monday (14), that he would resign as president of the Brazilian Representation in Mercosul Parliament , in protest "for the disregard and disrespect" of Brazilian ministers regarding  the parliamentary body. He informed that four ministers were invited, since last year, to discuss integration issues with the nine Brazilian deputies and nine Brazilian senators of the Parliament, but, until now, not even one of them answered.

- It is a contradiction. President Lula has been supporting Mercosul, promoting its invigoration, but his ministers answer with silence when they are invited to discuss subjects with Mercosul’s parliamentarians. These subjects are important to the regional integration - he said.

Among these ministers were the ones of Education, Fernando Haddad; of Science and Technology, Sérgio Rezende; of Culture, Gilberto Gil; and of Sports, Orlando Silva. The invitation to the minister of Education, Fernando Haddad, was presented on August 2007 by deputy Dr. Rosinha (PT-PR), who wants to know the ministry’s agenda on regional integration and illiteracy reduction.

Mesquita Júnior understands that the Parliament of Mercosul, located in Montevideo, Uruguay, should already be acting "with more intensity." According to him, the institution should have met since the beginning of the diplomatic conflict Ecuador-Colombia (generated by the Colombian military attack to Farc’s bases in Ecuadorian territory), what did not happen.

The parliamentarian said he will continue to participate in the parliament, handing the presidency of the Brazilian representation over to deputy Cláudio Diaz (PSDB-MG). The Mercosul Parliament, installed in December 2006, promotes monthly meetings.