Ministers give conflicting versions about Daniela Carneiro’s stay in Tourism

The Minister of Institutional Relations, Alexandre Padilha, announced this Thursday (6) that Deputy Celso Sabino (União-PA) “will lead the Tourism portfolio”. In a note, Padilha said that he and President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva (PT) should meet with leaders of the União Brasil to formalize the departure of Daniela Carneiro from the command of the folder.

“President Lula and I will meet with the president and leaders of União Brasil, on a date to be defined tomorrow, to receive the nomination of deputy Celso Sabino, who will lead the Tourism portfolio, continuing the work for the recovery of a such an important sector for the generation of employment and income in Brazil”, said Padilha

Earlier, the Minister of the Secretariat for Communication (Secom), Paulo Pimenta, said that Daniela would continue at the head of the ministry, at least until next week, and that she had not handed over her position during the meeting with Lula this afternoon. According to Pimenta, the government would wait for the votes on the economic guidelines to define the change in the portfolio.

The statement by the head of Secom irritated members of União Brasil. Hours later, Pimenta backed down and said that the minister already had “the knowledge” that another name will be nominated for her position. “There is no letter [de demissão]. But the minister has already made the position available. The announcement is that it will take place after the conversations conclude. But she has already communicated to the president and is already aware that another name will be appointed to occupy the role she currently has”, said Pimenta.

Daniela Carneiro and her husband, the mayor of Belford Roxo (RJ), Waguinho (Republicans), met with the president and Padilha at the Planalto Palace.

“In the conversation, we were able to clarify the partisan issues that motivated the change in the Ministry of Tourism, and the minister demonstrated her understanding with the government’s decision. The president thanked the minister for the excellent work done for the recovery of Tourism in Brazil and for her willingness to continue contributing to the government in Congress, with the role of being the most voted federal deputy in Rio de Janeiro”, said Padilha, in a note.

União Brasil reacts to the permanence of Daniela Carneiro in Tourism

After Pimenta’s statement, União Brasil even released a note asking for the postponement of the reform, with the signature of 37 deputies.

Earlier, the bench note said that “considering the importance for the country, as well as the complexity of the topic on the agenda, the majority of the União Brasil bench understands that there are no conditions to vote on the referred project before a deep analysis with the parliamentarians and Brazilian society”. In the note, the bench defended the postponement of the vote for the second semester, and ended by saying “our commitment is with Brazil”.

But, during the vote in the plenary of the Chamber, União Brasil advised that the bench support the PEC of the tax reform.