Centrão negotiates with Lula a broader ministerial reform – 07/06/2023 – Politics

The centrão intensified the pressure for President Lula (PT) to carry out a broader ministerial reform, instead of changing only Minister Daniela Carneiro (Tourism), who is the target of União Brasil.

Allies of the mayor, Arthur Lira (PP-AL), reinforce that for Lula to be able to expand the parliamentary base, it is necessary to make room in the government for parties such as the PP and the Republicans – and that a ministry with a high budget be given.

This movement takes place in the midst of negotiations to approve the projects that deal with the resumption of the so-called casting vote in Carf (Administrative Council of Tax Appeals) and the new fiscal framework, seen as priorities for the Ministry of Finance. Without a faithful base, the government faces difficulties in approving the two matters in plenary.

On another front, leaders of the União Brasil reinforced this Wednesday (5th) to the government that they wish to command Embratur, in Tourism, in order to feel contemplated. Lula, however, resists giving in.

These negotiations helped to postpone the effective exchange of Daniela for Deputy Celso Sabino (União Brasil-PA). This Thursday (6), Daniela met with Lula, alongside her husband, Waguinho (Republicans), who is mayor of Belford Roxo, and Minister Alexandre Padilha (Secretary of Institutional Relations).

At first, Minister Paulo Pimenta (Secom) stated that she did not hand in her resignation letter, but later considered that Daniela left the position at Lula’s disposal and that she knows that she will be changed in charge of the folder.

The information that the minister had not been dismissed generated a reaction from União Brasil and led Padilha to state in a note, at night, that it will set a date to meet with party leaders and officially receive Sabino’s appointment to lead the portfolio, as a way to appease lawmakers. The meeting is expected to take place this Friday (7).

According to Planalto members, Lula also wanted to wait for the return of the leader of the União Brasil in the Senate, Davi Alcolumbre (AP), who returned from a trip to Brasília on Thursday night, to consolidate Sabino’s nomination.

Daniela even invited Tourism officials to a meeting at 5 pm, but, after earning a living, she canceled the meeting, in which she was supposed to make a farewell assessment of the portfolio.

Members of União Brasil expected that the exchange of Daniela for Sabino would take place this Thursday, in the midst of important votes in the Chamber. The new demand for Embratur, however, made Planalto hold back a little longer on changing the minister, which would take place last month.

Leaders of the group of parties point out that, from the point of view of votes, it would make no difference if Daniela was replaced by Sabino. They are already targeting larger ministries, such as Social Development, after Lula decided to keep the Health portfolio armored, and the Ministry of Sports. Parliamentarians say that the first portfolio could belong to the PP, which would indicate someone from outside the party to command it, while the second would belong to the Republicans.

The command of Funasa (National Health Foundation) is also coveted.

The expectation of members of the centrão is that Lula will be able to make broader exchanges on the Esplanada in August, after the parliamentary recess.

When asked about the topic in an interview this week, Lira avoided taking a position and said again that he did not make requests about ministries commands to the federal government.

He said he had a fondness for both politicians and that it was up to the government to make its policy choices on how to build its support base. “I didn’t get involved, it’s the government’s choice. I can’t assess whether a simple change will make it better or worse.”

The centrão, led by Lira, was not satisfied with a one-off change in the Esplanada. Tourism’s budget is low and, without Embratur, the new minister’s potential for action is limited.

Still on Wednesday, the leader of União Brasil, Elmar Nascimento (BA), warned Minister Padilha that the party would like to take over Tourism as long as it could also command the state-owned company, which today is commanded by Marcelo Freixo (PT-RJ), an ally close to Lulu.

Lula’s allies defend that the exchanges be carried out together to reduce possible criticism from society about the space given to the centrão. They also say that this would contemplate more than one party at once, avoiding noises with subtitles that were left out at first.

According to reports, the negotiations to unlock the votes on the Carf project and the framework in the plenary of the House pass through the seam of a broader ministerial reform.

The Ministry of Social Development, which takes care of Bolsa Família, has a budget of R$ 276 billion — more than Health and Education. Such as Sheet As shown, Minister Wellington Dias has accumulated criticism within the Planalto Palace and also in the National Congress.

Despite the president having made gestures to the current holder of Sports, Ana Moser came into the sights of parliamentarians after the PT sanctioned the General Sports Law with a series of vetoes. This is because deputies stated that they were not consulted on these changes.

For the command of the Sports portfolio, the name of deputy Silvio Costa Filho (Republicanos-PE), close to Lira, is cited. For the Social Development, parliamentarians defend an indication of the leader of the PP in the House, André Fufuca (MA).

Lula also resists changing Wellington Dias (Social Development). He is one of the closest PT supporters to the president.