Opposition governors refuse to participate in the Lulista 8/1 event

Opposition governors refuse to participate in the “democratic act” scheduled by the Lula government for January 8, 2024. With the motto “Unshaken Democracy”, the act is expected to bring together 500 guests at the National Congress one year after the anti-Lula demonstrations which culminated in the arrest of hundreds of people.

Last month, when participating in an event alongside some governors at Palácio do Planalto, President Lula (PT) publicly invited the heads of state Executives to the event on January 8th.

“I’m inviting all the governors, because on January 8th we are going to hold an event here in Brasília to remind the people that a coup was attempted and that it was defeated by the democracy of this country […] I intend to have all the governors here, deputies, senators, businesspeople, to never again let people doubt that the democratic regime is the only thing that guarantees that institutions work and the people have access to the wealth they produce”, said Lula In this ocasion.

The event will be attended by the presidents of the Federal Supreme Court (STF), the Chamber and the Senate, as well as governors and ministers.

The call, however, will not be heeded by opposition governors who cite travel, vacations and medical appointments as justifications for their absence from the event.

The governor of São Paulo, Tarcísio de Freitas (Republicans), is on vacation in Europe and is only expected to return to Brazil on the night of January 8th. During his absence, the Executive’s agenda is taken over by the vice-governor, Felicio Ramuth (PSD).

It turns out that Ramuth will travel to an event in China in the early hours of January 8th. In his absence, the role of governor will be held by the president of Alesp, André do Prado (PL).

Wanted by Newspaperthe Government of São Paulo informed that, in principle, there is no representative scheduled to go to Lula’s event.

Ramuth told the newspaper that Tarcísio is “on a well-deserved rest” scheduled in advance and that it was a “coincidence” to be out of the country on the date of Lula’s event.

The governors of Minas Gerais, Romeu Zema (Novo), and Rio de Janeiro, Cláudio Castro (PL), have not yet decided on their presence at the Lulista event.

To Folha, the three governors of the South region said they will not attend the event. The governor of Rio Grande do Sul, Eduardo Leite (PSDB), is on vacation in Trancoso, Bahia, and will only return to work on January 11th. When contacted by the newspaper, the state’s vice-governor, Gabriel Souza (MDB), informed that next week’s agenda has not yet been defined.

The governors of Santa Catarina, Jorginho Mello (PL), and Paraná, Ratinho Júnior (PSD), told Folha that they have “other commitments” scheduled for January 8th. According to the newspaper, the government of Paraná should not send a representative. The government of Santa Catarina did not respond whether it would send a representative.

The governor of Goiás, Ronaldo Caiado (União Brasil), said that he has a medical check-up scheduled for January 8th. In 2022, Caiado was on rest for 45 days following heart surgery.