Lula 3: Disputes and lack of coordination worsen tension – 04/07/2024 – Power

The new chapter of the crisis at Petrobras brought to light the lack of coordination by the Lula (PT) government and ended up intensifying intrigues and friction on the Esplanada. Pointed out by the president’s allies as a difficult moment in Lula’s third term, the week was marked by distrust among the government’s main ministers.

Tension grips the president’s team amid the government’s attempt to reverse the downward trend in its approval, seeking solutions to adjust criticized communication and putting pressure on ministers to deliver results.

A Sheet heard eight ministers and three secretaries, who made several reports about fissures among government members in recent days. The head of the Civil House, Rui Costa, is among the most criticized and was pointed out by colleagues on the ministerial team as the origin of leaks on the Esplanada. But the disagreements and disputes go further.

Asked to comment on the coordination of the government, under the responsibility of the Civil House, a minister even stated, with reservations, that this report would be a blank sheet if that were the main topic. In his opinion, there is no such thing as government management.

Now, in addition to appeasing his team and preventing the crisis at Petrobras from causing more political and economic damage, Lula is starting to consider a ministerial reform, which was not planned.

The lack of contact between ministers and Lula increases complaints on the Esplanada, with several of them criticizing the fact that their proposals end up at the Palácio do Planalto, without it being possible to appeal to the president.

They claim that the head of the Civil House created a type of shield for Lula, preventing other advisors and members of the first echelon from having access to the president.

Jean Paul Prates, president of Petrobras, whose frying process reached its peak during the week, is one of those who would be seeking, without success, an audience alone with the president.

Rumors involving Prates’ dismissal gained strength after an interview with Sheet from the Minister of Mines and Energy, Alexandre Silveira, who admitted that there was a conflict between his role and that of the company’s president.

Silveira was questioned and avoided assessing whether Jean Paul Prates was doing a good job. “I leave the evaluation of the management of the president of Petrobras to the president of the Republic,” he stated.

Prates would then have asked for an audience with Lula to talk about the bombings fired at him by people from the government itself in recent days. The initiative was seen by Planalto’s assistants as an ultimatum and ended up being displeased.

Faced with speculation about the fall, the president’s aides began to say that Lula is considering replacing him with Aloizio Mercadante, currently president of BNDES (National Bank for Economic and Social Development).

The leak of Mercadante’s name was one of the reasons for the relationship between government members to sour once and for all. Ministers exchange accusations about the origin of the information.

The head of the Civil House is accused behind the scenes of passing responsibility for the leak of Mercadante’s name as a possible replacement for Prates to the Treasury. The situation increased the heat for the president of Petrobras, considering that Fernando Haddad (Fazenda) was seen as an ally in some causes, such as the distribution of extra dividends from the state-owned company.

On the other hand, Costa would have expressed, in conversations, his irritation with Haddad, whom he would be holding responsible for the leak of an agreement reached between the two and Silveira for the distribution of the same dividends. The disclosure was seen as premature, considering that it still needs to be reviewed by Lula and then by the company’s Board of Directors.

According to a minister, there is no good guy in this story and the relationship within the Palácio do Planalto is described as “toxic”.

The exchanges of accusations and complaints behind the scenes affect Costa, Haddad, Silveira, Wellington Dias (Social Development), Camilo Santana (Education), Alexandre Padilha (Institutional Relations), Marcio Macedo (Secretary-General of the Presidency), Simone Tebet (Planning) and even ministers outside the political-economic core.

Members of the Federal Police and departments such as Ricardo Lewandowski’s (Justice and Public Security) complain about the treatment given by Rui and his team on a daily basis. There are complaints about excessive meetings, attempts to centralize decisions, as if he acted like a prime minister.

Lula’s speech, on Thursday (4), calling Rui Costa prime minister increased the list of discontent on the Esplanada, especially among the ministers of the so-called broad front that supported the election of the PT member in the dispute with Jair Bolsonaro (PL) .

The relationship between the Minister of the Civil House and the PF and the Ministry of Justice at the time it was commanded by Flávio Dino was no longer good. There were clashes mainly regarding Lula’s presidential security.

Among the reports heard by Sheetthere is still the perception that so many “intrigues and futurities” generate a climate of discouragement. With the possibility of a change in command at Petrobras, the discussion for a ministerial reform gained strength, as columnist Mônica Bergamo showed. Allies said that Lula’s intention was to delay the changes until the municipal elections in October.

According to some debated scenarios, Paulo Pimenta (Secom) could be moved to the General Secretariat of the Presidency. Other changes studied are Padilha’s move to Health, while Wellington Dias would return to the Senate, making way for former minister Tereza Campello to return to the portfolio.

In addition to the Petrobras crisis, other setbacks for the government were cited this week. Lula suffered a defeat with the decision of President Rodrigo Pacheco (PSD-MG) to extend the provisional measure of payroll tax relief, but determining the end of the tax relief for municipalities.

The decision opened a new focus of criticism in political articulation, led by Padilha. The president also had to face a particular problem, with the complaint against his son Luis Cláudio Lula da Silva, 39, accused of physical, moral and psychological violence committed against a former partner.

The pressure on the president with the escalation of civil service mobilizations for salary adjustments also contributed to the bad atmosphere last week.