Lula’s ally who appointed tourism minister says change is undefined

The mayor of the Rio de Janeiro city of Belford Roxo (RJ), Waguinho Carneiro (Republicanos-RJ), said that the possible replacement of the Minister of Tourism, his wife Daniela Carneiro (União Brasil-RJ), has not yet been defined and that President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva (PT) will decide next week.

Daniela’s departure is taken for granted due to Lula’s articulation with União Brasil, which intends to increase space on the Esplanada dos Ministérios by placing deputy Celso Sabino (União-PA) in the portfolio in exchange for more votes in the Chamber of Deputies .

Waguinho Carneiro said that he received a call from the president reassuring him of the exchange and that he will not be abandoned, but that he will be consulted on the possible exchange.

“If President Lula understands that the ministry has to be handed over to Deputy Celso Sabino [União-PA] it is the will of the president and we will not go against the president in that sense”, he told CNN Brasil this Thursday (8).

Despite Daniela being affiliated with the party, the national president of the party, Luciano Bivar, has already indicated his preference for Sabino in the portfolio. Waguinho, however, criticized the party and said that the objective of União Brasil is to increase power over the president himself. “He
[Bivar] will not be satisfied and will start asking for positions, amendments for the deputies, more budget for the ministry”, he added.

União Brasil currently holds three ministries on the Esplanada: Tourism, with Daniela Carneiro; Regional Integration, with Waldez Góes (PA) and Communications, with Juscelino Filho (MA). However, Daniela would be part of the so-called “personal quota” of the president on behalf of the Fluminense ally, which would justify the party’s request for the exchange for a name from the party itself.