Reform involves competition within Lula’s future base – 8/3/2023 – Bruno Boghossian

The drawn-out negotiation for the centrão’s boarding in the government involves competition within Lula’s future base. The dispute involves the Esplanada real estate market, with the space coveted by new tenants and the size of the land occupied by former residents.

When setting up the government, Lula gave nine ministries to parties that had not been part of his electoral alliance: MDB, PSD and União Brasil. Political landholdings such as Cities, Agriculture and Regional Development were included in the package, with great weight in the distribution of funds to the strongholds of parliamentarians.

None of the three parties returned a number of votes that left the Planalto close to a majority in Congress. Lula could reach that mark with the accession of the PP and the Republicans, but the bargain made by the government in choosing the portfolios that these parties will occupy bothered the centrão.

Arthur Lira’s group saw a tough game in the signals issued by Planalto. The centrão wants to command structures that facilitate the flow of amendments, such as Sports, Social Development and Caixa. In recent weeks, the government has exposed resistance to this plan.

Lula’s negotiators spoke of preserving the three feuds and handing over portfolios such as Science and Technology or Ports and Airports to the centrão, as well as vice-presidencies of Caixa. A Lira ally reacted with the complaint that the government wanted support, but was only willing to cede “fifth-rate ministries.”

The centrão’s argument is that the group would represent an increase of 90 votes to Lula’s base in the Chamber, giving the government a comfortable majority. The positions requested would be equivalent to the space occupied by the MDB, which has 43 deputies and a loyalty slightly higher than 30 votes.

Lula must reach an agreement with Lira, but the balance between the parties must still return to the president’s table. Depending on the support measured in the next votes, the issue may lead to a broader ministerial reform next year.

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