Brazil's former minister resigns in environmental protest

The protection of the Amazon rainforest could take centre stage in next year's Brazilian presidential election, after the country's former environment minister announced yesterday that she has resigned from the ruling Workers' party, raising speculation that she is preparing a presidential bid.

Speaking at a press conference, Marina Silva said she was leaving the party in protest at the "political conditions" that had meant "environmental concerns had not been able to take root at the heart of the government".

She added in her resignation letter that she was leaving in an attempt to challenge ideas of "development based on material growth at any cost, with huge gains for a few and perverse results for the majority", including "the destruction of natural resources".

Silva, who resigned last May following a row over plans to develop parts of the Amazon, has been subject to speculation that she is to defect to the Green Party and launch a presidential bid next year. While she yesterday stopped short of joining the Greens, media commentators remain convinced that a presidential bid is on the cards.

Any presidential race involving Silva would likely drive the issue of the environment and rainforest protection back to the top of the political agenda, following several years during which President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva has been accused of letting the issue slip down his list of priorities.

Commentators are also convinced that Silva, 51, could pose a considerable challenge to Lula.

The Guardian cited the influential columnist Zuenir Ventura, who this week drew parallels between Silva and US President Barack Obama.

"Marina excites young people, those who are disenchanted with the current situation [and] with the Workers' Party… in such a way that she could create a spontaneous and contagious movement within society," he wrote, "as innovative as that which occurred in the US with Obama."