“get out of there with the dogs”

The first lady of Brazil, Rosângela Lula da Silva, known as Janja, gave a long interview to the newspaper The globe published this Sunday (5). In her testimony, the sociologist from Paraná spoke about how she sees the role of wife of the President of the Republic, the presence of women in politics and gave her opinion on some highlights of the national and international news. The interview was given at Palácio da Alvorada, official residence of the Presidency of the Republic, in Brasília, and accompanied by a photo essay by photographer Bob Wolfenson, in which the first lady displayed six different looks designed by Brazilian designers.

Among the highlights of Janja’s statement to the newspaper is his concern for pets, including during the events on January 8 in Brasília. At the time, Janja says that she was desperate due to the demonstrations: “I was desperate because the dogs were in the hotel. I called there and said: ‘Get out of there with the dogs’. I was very afraid of what could happen to them,” she said. Janja also expressed anguish about the situation of pets in Israel’s war against Hamas, in the Middle East. The first lady said that she questioned Lula about the search for animals affected by the war. “He spoke to the commander of the FAB (Brazilian Air Force), and the next day the pets were already on the plane. But I think they were already looking at it,” she reports.

In another highlight of the interview with Globe, Janja commented on positioning himself alongside – and not behind – the president. The PT member said that during an event in Lisbon, Portugal, the ceremonial instructed her to stand behind the president. “I said: ‘No, love. I don’t stand behind the president, I always stand by his side,'” she said. “I always tell Cida (Gonçalves, Minister of Women): ‘If they put you in the back (at meetings), poke the man and make him come out so you can sit'”.

Janja showed that she wants to give scope to the issues she considers relevant, such as more women in politics, violence against women and sexual exploitation of children and adolescents and believes that the first lady must contribute to the development of Brazil. “Like it or not, almost everything I say gains breadth. Why not do this for topics that are relevant? (…) This is more important than just making dinner or five o’clock tea. Why doesn’t the First Lady “Could it also be contributing to the development of Brazil? I keep going to the supermarket and the pharmacy, and women tell me that I’m on the right path,” he said.

Asked about criticism of her participation in the government because she was not elected, the woman from Paraná said she did not mind. “Whoever makes this criticism doesn’t see the world we live in today. I will continue at the president’s side, because I think that’s the role I have to play,” she said. She also reported that she was the only first lady who joined the president at the G-20 meeting because he wouldn’t let go of her hand.

Together with the president of the PT, Gleisi Hoffmann, Janja says she encouraged more women in ministries, during the government transition, and that in some way she was satisfied. “We (she and the president) spent the weekends alone and talked a lot. Sometimes, we have discussions that are a little more like this… strong. But that’s it,” she said. “We had two losses (of women) in government. It’s part of it.” The interview was given on the eve of Rita Serrano’s resignation from Caixa’s presidency. The other two women fired by Lula were Daniela Carneiro, former Minister of Tourism, and Ana Moser, former Minister of Sports.

Regarding her preference for wearing clothes designed by Brazilian designers, Janja said that she tries to make people aware of Brazilian fashion: “People comment on my looks, some good, others bad. At the coronation of King Charles III, they said I was dressed as a pumpkin. That dress was the color of the campaign against child sexual exploitation. It’s obvious that I want to send a message,” he said. “I make a point of always wearing different clothes when I go to international events, because we need to talk more about Brazilian fashion and promote our designers,” he added.