In October, Mario Covas, the governor of Sao Paulo state, publicly blasted his housing officials for their slowness.

ECONOMIST: Brazil��s (pre)occupying housing problem

This week, Mr Cardoso vetoed that: it had enraged another of his allies, Mario Covas, governor of Sao Paulo, Brazil's ailing Detroit.

ECONOMIST: Cardoso��s reform puzzle

Now, as Mr Cardoso struggles to hold his coalition together, he faces losing another vital ally, Mario Covas, the governor of Sao Paulo state, who was gravely ill this week.

ECONOMIST: Brazil loses a political kingpin