Many senators – some of them claiming to be “perplexed” – welcomed back senator Marina Silva (PT-AC), who resigned, on Tuesday, from the post of minister of the Environment and will now resume her mandate.

Senator Pedro Simon (PMDB-RS) was speaking at the Plenary when he received the news from his advisors. He said that current administration will lose a lot with Marina’s departure. In his opinion, Marina leaves the government “not due to a mistake or a shortcoming”, adding that the Senate will welcome her with “open arms”. 

Senator Tião Viana (PT-AC) said that Marina helped the government achieving good results for the environment.

- The senator is one of the greatest politicians in Acre’s history and leaves the ministry with her head held high – said Viana, who also complimented senator Sibá Machado (PT-AC), who replaced the minister since the beginning of Lula’s government, in 2003.

Senator Arthur Virgílio (PSDB-AM) said that, in his opinion, Marina Silva was a good minister, “righteous, serious and with conviction of her ideas”.

- The government will have to give a good explanation of her departure, especially now that global warming is worrying people from all over the world – said Arthur Virgílio.

Senator José Agripino (DEM-RN) applauded the minister’s performance for its “coherence and sobriety”. He pointed out that, although they are political opponents, he recognized her qualities as minister. Magno Malta (PR-ES) reminded that she had earned worldwide respect.

Eduardo Suplicy (PT-SP) also sympathized with the minister, and Mão Santa (PMDB-PI) reminded that she, facing resistance “even in her own party”, stopped the take-over of Serra Vermelha (located in his state) by a private company. According to him, that area was “doomed to turn into coal”.