Republicans will maintain independence even after winning ministry

The Republican leadership reaffirmed that it will remain independent in the votes in the National Congress despite having appointed deputy Sílvio Costa Filho (Republicanos-PE) in the Ministry of Ports and Airports. Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva’s government expected to increase the total number of votes in Congress with Centrão’s move to the allied base.

The president of the Republicans, Marcos Pereira (SP), released a statement, on behalf of the party’s National Executive, guaranteeing that “it will not be part of the base of the Lula government and will continue to act independently”.

The party also says in the text released after the announcement of the mini-ministerial reform that deputy Sílvio Costa Filho must take leave not only from his position in the Chamber but also from his party functions, both as president of the party in Pernambuco and as 1st treasurer in the National Executive.

The Republicans also state that the invitation to Costa Filho was made directly to the parliamentarian by President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva and that the Republicans’ commitment is to “continue supporting what is good for the Brazilian people and for Brazil”.

Some parliamentarians closely linked to former president Jair Bolsonaro had been talking about leaving the party if the party supported the PT government, but so far nothing has been made official. People close to the governor of São Paulo believe that it would not be interesting at this time for Tarcísio de Freitas to leave the Republicans.

Among the reasons would be a closer relationship with the new minister, whose portfolio would have influence on a project dear to the governor: the privatization of the Port of Santos, a subject that Tarcísio has been talking about since the campaign, in 2022.