Lula calls ACM Neto a staple amid the crisis with the Union – 05/11/2023 – Politics

In the midst of a crisis in political articulation after the government’s defeats in votes in the National Congress, President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva (PT) used a pejorative nickname to refer to the secretary general of União Brasil, ACM Neto. The party is part of your allied base.

In an act of the federal government alongside the governor of Bahia, Jerônimo Rodrigues (PT), Lula called the former mayor of Salvador a “little bug”.

The nickname was given by opponents in the mid-2000s, during the first Lula administration, when then-senator Antônio Carlos Magalhães (1937-2007), grandfather of ACM Neto, was investigated for allegedly running an illegal wiretapping scheme in Bahia.

At the time, ACM Neto was a federal deputy and one of the fiercest opponents of Lula in the National Congress. Currently, União Brasil is considered a member of the allied base of the Lula government, but the party claims to be independent.

The legend was contemplated with three ministries in the Lula government (Communications, National Integration and Tourism) and also commands coveted federal agencies such as Codevasf (Development Company of the São Francisco and Parnaíba Valleys).

But it faces internal friction: in April, the Minister of Tourism, Daniela Carneiro, asked to leave the party. Part of the União Brasil bench, more aligned with Bolsonarism, has been voting against agendas of interest to the government in the National Congress.

The reference to ACM Neto was made at a time when Lula was citing electoral polls that pointed to a possible victory at the polls of the former mayor of Salvador in the elections for the government of Bahia in 2022, which did not occur.

Lula stated that, before the election, he was suspicious of Jerônimo Rodrigues’ electoral potential, but was convinced by Rui Costa that he would be the best candidate. “I came here [para a Bahia]Jerônimo 3%, the staple almost 80% [das intenções de voto]”, said Lula, being strongly applauded by supporters.

Jerônimo Rodrigues, from the PT, won the elections in the second round with 52.8% against 47.2% of ACM Neto, who chose to remain neutral in relation to the presidential dispute. In Bahia, the two parties are on opposite sides.

This Wednesday (10), ACM Neto took charge of Instituto Índigo, the education branch of União Brasil whose objective is “the dissemination of democratic and liberal ideas” in society.

On the other hand, the Palácio do Planalto had its first meetings with the base parties this Wednesday after consecutive defeats in Congress. At the same time that there was a demand from the Planalto, there was also a commitment to the release of amendments and positions in the government.