President says he has made an “effort” to govern and that he needs to talk “all the time” to get projects approved.| Photo: Marcelo Camargo/Agência Brasil

President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva (PT) acknowledged this Friday (2) that he has difficulty governing with the left-wing base he currently has in the Chamber of Deputies, as a reflection of the week’s vote that almost made him lose the current configuration of the Esplanade of Ministries. Although he had changes in assignments, the president secured the 37 folders instead of returning to the 23 of Jair Bolsonaro (PL).

“The entire left has a maximum of 136 votes, if no one is absent. We, to vote for a simple thing, need 257 votes. And to approve a constitutional amendment, the number of deputies we need is even greater”, he said at an event in São Bernardo do Campo (SP).

Lula also said that he has been making an “effort to govern”, in reference to the intense political articulations that have been demanded. The mayor, Arthur Lira (PP-AL), specifically asked him to negotiate with deputies, and not just with interlocutors.

“It’s not just about winning an election. You win an election and then you have to spend the whole time talking to see if you can get something approved,” said the Chief Executive.