Alckmin denies ministerial reform in the face of ministerial split with União Brasil – 04/12/2023 – Politics

Acting president Gerado Alckmin said this Wednesday (12) that there is no discussion on ministerial reform and that the position of minister is the responsibility of the chief executive.

Alckmin did not mention the name of Daniela Carneiro (Tourism), who left União Brasil, but gave the answer after being questioned about keeping her in the position or about the possibility of a ministerial reform.

“There is no history of ministerial reform. A ministerial position is a responsibility and, on the other hand, it is the confidence of the President of the Republic. There is no discussion of ministerial reform,” said the acting president.

The statement was given to journalists after the Abdib (Brazilian Association of Infrastructure and Basic Industries) forum.

Daniela asked the TSE (Superior Electoral Court) to disaffiliate from União Brasil, after internal disputes. The Planalto Palace adopted caution and wants to wait for the unfolding of the crisis in the party to evaluate the next moves.

Daniela was already the target of friendly fire by members of the União Brasil who were trying to occupy the portfolio. Now, the party’s internal crisis has increased the pressure on her. Within the government, the assessment is that the minister is weakened, but there is still a willingness to keep her in the post, mainly due to her proximity to Lula.

Alckmin’s statement is in line with what he told the Sheet the Minister of the Institutional Relations Secretariat (SRI), Alexandre Padilha, who said that the government does not act on impulse.

“We are going to analyze with the necessary calm, not having any hasty measures on our part”, says the minister, who also highlighted the appreciation that President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva (PT) has for Daniela.

“This government does not act on impulse, [ele] analyze the situation. Daniela Carneiro is a minister who is highly regarded by President Lula. We will always evaluate the ministers for their technical capacity to coordinate a public policy combined with their political capacity to add allies, to dialogue with the parties, with the National Congress”, said Padilha.

União Brasil has the portfolios of Tourism, Communications, in addition to Integration and Regional Development. However, it was not enough to fully attract the party, which declares itself independent, to the PT base.

This is not the first government crisis involving the Minister of Tourism. In the first days of the mandate, the Sheet showed her political ties with militiamen in Rio de Janeiro. Daniela, for example, received political support from former councilor Marcio Pagniez, known as Marcinho Bombeiro, who was arrested on remand.

President Lula’s confidence in the minister’s work and gratitude for her and her husband Waguinho’s commitment during the PT campaign are some of the reasons why the government came to her defense and decided to keep her.

At the time, Lula sought to minimize the link, in an interview with CNN Brasil, he treated the case only as a “photograph” and ignored a series of links between the minister and the Rio de Janeiro militia.

“She appeared in a truck there with a militia guy. Honestly, if we take into account people who are photographed alongside other people, we won’t talk to anyone, because I’m the guy who takes the most photographs in the world”, said the president in February.

“If I’m going to take a picture of Lula with people who have become my enemy, I’m completely screwed for the rest of my life. Let’s judge correctly, let’s not be in a hurry”, he added.