Janja’s role in the agenda worries and bothers even allies

The fact that First Lady Rosângela da Silva, known as Janja, led a team of ministers – during a visit in support of the victims of an extratropical cyclone in Rio Grande do Sul – worries the opposition and even people close to President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva (PT). Janja does not have an official position at Planalto.

Sources heard by People’s Gazette, and who prefer to remain anonymous, reported that the vice-president, Geraldo Alckmin (PSB-SP), who participated in the delegation, ended up being “erased” by Janja – who even without a position seemed to have the status of minister. He would have been embarrassed by the situation.

Janja took advantage of the trip to try to reverse criticism of a lack of empathy with the people of Rio Grande do Sul, when a first cyclone hit the state. In early September, alongside Lula on an official trip to India, she posted a little dance on social media, deleting the post shortly afterwards.

The situation aroused concern among the opposition. Deputy Evair de Melo (PP-ES) presented a representation to the Attorney General’s Office to request the opening of an investigation. In the letter sent to the PGR, Melo questioned Janja’s competence and legality to supposedly “take over” Lula’s agenda while the president recovers from surgery.

“It is imperative to emphasize that, as provided in article 328 of the Penal Code, the usurpation of a public function is considered a crime. The aforementioned article recommends that “usurping the exercise of a public function” is a crime, and the offender may be punished with a prison sentence , from three months to two years, and a fine”, points out the deputy.

In Melo’s view, the first lady would have “assumed” responsibility for Lula’s agenda, which “is a serious fact and must be investigated. Behind this we have a letter of intent. If it were a normal agenda, Lula and Have dinner together, it would be normal”, says the parliamentarian.

“Who gave her this protagonism? [Janja]? Geraldo [Alckmin] Was it consulted?” asks Evair de Melo.

The report asked the Communication Secretariat of the Presidency of the Republic about the possible usurpation of public functions by Janja. The organization only reported that “the first lady will not take over the presidential agenda.”

PSB denies embarrassment and dissatisfaction with government position

PSB parliamentarians denied any type of hurt or dissatisfaction with the party’s position within the Lula government. But interlocutors say that there is, indeed, a certain “resentment” after Márcio França was moved from the Ministry of Ports and Airports to the new portfolio of Entrepreneurship, to accommodate Sílvio Costa Filho, from the Republicans, at Esplanada.

Geraldo Alckmin himself had already told interlocutors that he was uncomfortable. Deputies say it’s all just rumors, and the party’s advisors also deny internal discontent or splits.

Juan Carlos Gonçalves, CEO of Ranking of Politicians, said that since the beginning of the Lula government, it was anticipated that Janja would have a prominent role in the president’s team. He says he believes this could weaken influential figures, including the vice president.

“The PSB is, indeed, being weakened under Lula’s administration. Alckmin had to give up part of his ministry so that Márcio França would not be left in the cold. The PT’s challenge will be to balance several dishes between the different political parties of its coalition and meet the their different interests. The question will be how to equalize the dynamics with Janja’s actions”, says

Ibmec Belo Horizonte Political Science professor Adriano Cerqueira goes further and referred to Janja’s “protagonism” as a “public humiliation” for Alckmin.

“It’s even a public humiliation, in my opinion, [para o vice-presidente]. He should be empowered when the president steps aside.”

Analysts say Janja’s active participation could create problems for the government

For political scientist Adriano Cerqueira, from the Federal University of Ouro Preto, the first lady’s influence on government agendas and affairs, often even diverging from Lula himself, can cause problems and generate discomfort in the allied base.

“Evidently, a person appearing to have increasingly greater influence, and who is still his wife, creates a problem in relation to his allies. But the biggest issue is political: parties can feel discredited”, he states.

Analyst Jorge Mizael, from Metapolitics, says that, even without an institutional link, Janja has sought to give visibility to agendas he believes in, more than to the implementation of policies or decision-making, especially because he has no “pen” or budget. for that.