Lula brings Tarcísio and his party, says Márcio França – 07/09/2023 – Politics

After losing his original post on the Esplanada to accommodate the centrão and being appointed to head a new portfolio, Minister Márcio França (PSB) said on social networks that President Lula (PT) brings the governor of São Paulo, Tarcísio de Freitas (Republicans ), and his party to support the government.

Tarcísio is an ally and former minister of Jair Bolsonaro (PL), the PT’s main rival.

França left the Ministry of Ports and Airports to accommodate Silvio Costa Filho (Republicans) and will be transferred to the new Ministry of Micro and Small Companies, whose creation was announced by Lula at the end of August.

The negotiation was preceded by irritation in the PSB of vice-president Geraldo Alckmin. The party felt discredited with the switch to host rival Lula parties in the 2022 election.

Throughout the negotiations, Lula’s allies considered that the presence of a Republican affiliate on the Esplanada could strengthen Tarcísio, the party’s main bet to run for the Planalto in 2026 and pointed out as a possible heir to Bolsonaro’s electoral spoils.

In the post, França says that Silvio Costa Filho is a “great politician, very prepared” and that he “will help in the task of promoting the union and reconstruction that Brazil so badly needs”.

“I salute the @LulaOficial for bringing to the govt @tarcisiogdf and your party to support us. BR is back”, wrote the PSB minister.

Lula concluded this Wednesday (6) the first major ministerial reform of his third term, with an internal relocation to accommodate names appointed by the centrão.

In addition to deputy Silvio Costa Filho in the Ports and Airports portfolio, deputy André Fufuca (PP-MA) was announced for the Ministry of Sports.

With the creation of the new folder for Micro and Small Companies, the number of ministers in the PT administration rises to 38. He was only surpassed by Dilma Rousseff (PT), who reached 39 folders in the second term.

The change comes after more than two months of negotiations with members of the top of Congress. The main objective was to include the centrão parties in the government and, thus, increase Lula’s support base in Parliament.

The decision was confirmed by means of a note released by the Presidency of the Republic on Wednesday night. The Presidency’s note did not mention the now ex-Minister Ana Moser nor thank her for her services, as is often the case with allies.

Fufuca will replace Ana Moser in Sport, a former Olympic athlete, sports activist and early supporter of Lula’s candidacy. Of the three resignations of the petista in the government so far, two were women: on July 14, he left Daniela Carneiro for Celso Sabino, at Tourism.