It would be a mistake for Lula to change an evangelical minister for a Bolsonarist, says Waguinho – 06/12/2023 – Politics

The mayor of Belford Roxo (RJ), Waguinho (Republicanos-RJ), said this Monday (12) that the threat of removal of his wife, Daniela Carneiro (União Brasil-RJ), from the Ministry of Tourism is the result of failures in the articulation of the Lula government (PT).

One of the rare mayors to support the president in last year’s election in Baixada Fluminense, a region where Jair Bolsonaro had more than 60% of the votes, Waguinho claims that it would be a mistake to remove a woman ally, an evangelical who helps the government to enter an area bolsonarista.

“It is very bad to change a woman, evangelical and most voted in Rio de Janeiro, who defended Lula in a Bolsonarist state. It is worse to put a man and even more Bolsonarist in his place. This exchange is not right”, said the mayor.

Daniela Carneiro announced her request to leave União Brasil in April, with her husband. Her departure from the ministry is under discussion due to pressure from parties in Congress, where the government still faces difficulties in forming a faithful base. União Brasil has demanded the position, while the PP of the mayor, Arthur Lira (AL), covets Health.

Waguinho, who is in Brasília, said that he is waiting for the call to speak with President Lula. He sees the pressure on the government as a result of “a political articulation that fails to deliver what it says”.

“There seems to be an internal war. Minister Alexandre Padilha [Secretaria de Relações Institucionais] has good will. Meets and promises appointments. But he is not the one who owns the DO [Diário Oficial]”, he said.

Asked if the criticism was directed at the Chief of Staff, Rui Costa, responsible for signing the main appointments, he confirmed: “It’s Rui Costa. There is a very big internal war and the government cannot align itself.”

The mayor’s main criticisms are aimed at União Brasil, the party he left after an internal fight, and, mainly, deputy Celso Sabino (União Brasil-PA), quoted to replace Daniela in office.

“Sabino did everything to win National Integration, Communications, but he didn’t want to clash with Juscelino [Filho, ministro]Elmar [Nascimento, deputado] and the [senador] David Alcolumbre. Now he left for Daniela. Cowardly, sexist. He forgot that she has a husband. I don’t see women as a quota, but as a priority,” said the mayor.

He also questioned whether the exchange under discussion will give the government the return in votes in Congress promised by União Brasil.

“O [presidente da União Brasil, Luciano] Bivar, the [vice-presidente do partido, Antônio] Rueda and Sabino are lying. They have National Integration, Communications, Codevasf and several other important positions, and they cannot deliver votes. Are they going to make it now with a ministry that has a budget of R$ 19 million and practically no positions?”, questioned Waguinho.

The mayor said that the Republicans are willing to sponsor Daniela’s maintenance in government. “Even not being from the base, the Republicans today deliver more votes from their bench than the Union.”

Despite the opposition with the political articulation of the government, the mayor affirms that he will not stop supporting President Lula. “I was Lula 1, Lula 2, Dilma 1, Dilma 2 and Lula 3. And I will be Lula 4”.

He pondered, however, that the PT could see the weakening of the arc of alliances in the state.

“The Ministry of Tourism is very representative of Rio de Janeiro. The weakening of this alliance will not be our fault. It is a Bolsonarist state, with a Bolsonarist governor, with a huge number of evangelicals. And we end up running out of instruments.”