Lula during an event this Thursday (11) in Salvador. MST would have been banned from participating in the ceremony.| Photo: Ricardo Stuckert/Presidency of the Republic.

The Landless Rural Workers Movement (MST) stated that it was vetoed by the Minister of the Civil House, Rui Costa, from participating in an event with the presence of President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva (PT) held this Thursday (11) in Salvador BA). The Chief Executive participated in the launch of the Participatory Pluriannual Plan and the Brasil Participativo digital platform.

The ceremony was attended by trade unionists and social movement activists, reported the newspaper Folha de S. Paulo. In the social media, federal deputy Valmir Assunção (PT-BA), confirmed the minister’s veto of the MST. Assunção, who is linked to the group, refused to participate in the event and said that the MST “has a history of struggle and deserves respect”.

In an interview with Folha, the deputy also stated that the ceremonial of the Presidency of the Republic spoke with the MST and that Rui Costa informed that the presence of the group would create embarrassment at the event. After land invasions, the Chamber of Deputies decided to open a Parliamentary Commission of Inquiry (CPI) to investigate the actions of the MST.

“Rui Costa was governor for eight years. In the last six, he did not receive social or union movement. It is a characteristic of him… In addition, there is a CPI in the Federal Chamber and there is a debate of a CPI in the state. saying that the presence of the MST would cause embarrassment,” Assunção said.

Rui Costa, on the other hand, denied, in a note, that he had vetoed the participation of members of the movement in the ceremony. In a statement, the MST in Bahia said it was surprised by the veto, but “continues to believe in and defend the Lula government and the Jerônimo government in Bahia.”

Among the participants in the event were the governor of Bahia, Jerônimo Rodrigues (PT), ministers Simone Tebet (Planning and Budget), Paulo Pimenta (Secretary of Social Communication), Wellington Dias (Social Development and Combating Hunger) and Rui Costa ( Civil House).