Rui Costa accumulates power and becomes Lula’s spokesperson – 01/29/2023 – Politics

The Minister of the Civil House, Rui Costa (PT), consolidated himself in the first month of his term as the main name of the management in the Federal Executive. Chosen by Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva (PT) to head the portfolio that coordinates the work of the entire Esplanada, he accumulated power and became the president’s spokesman.

PT members and members of the first echelon say that the main actions must go through the approval of the head of the Civil House and even compare him with the then all-powerful José Dirceu at the beginning of the Lula 1 government (2003-2006).

They consider, however, that the portfolio does not have as many attributions as in Lula’s first term and remember that Rui does not have the same internal influence in the party that Dirceu had.

Since the beginning of the new government, the minister has expanded his powers over appointments and signed a norm to determine that all appointments in ministries up to director level must go through the Civil House. Before, the Civil House endorsed the choices for the second echelon, but lower posts were under the autonomy of the respective ministers.

The dismissals of all positions, even the lowest, also pass through the ministry. There is an assessment by petistas that the machine would have been equipped by Bolsonarists and that a fine-tooth comb is needed.

Therefore, if it was formerly up to the Civil House to make a more legal bias filter on second and third-level positions, now the ministry also makes the political analysis and gives the final word on these nominations.

It was Rui who made one of the most impactful statements in the political world since the PT’s return to power. Despite Lula having publicly indicated that he does not intend to run for re-election, the minister stated, in the first week of his government, that the PT candidate may run for a new term.

In addition to controlling appointments and dismissals, it fell to him to speak on behalf of Lula in sensitive situations. It was Rui who publicly disavowed the Minister of Social Security, Carlos Lupi, who suggested revoking the changes in the retirement rules approved in 2017.

In the same week, he was the only one released to speak after the first ministerial meeting conducted by Lula. He granted a press conference to report the content of the meeting, and all other ministers were instructed to leave the palace without talking to the press.

He was also the one who met with the commanders of the Armed Forces to prepare the military meeting with Lula, in the midst of the tension unleashed after the acts of vandalism at the headquarters of the Three Powers.

Shortly after the PT victory, Lula nominated his deputy, Geraldo Alckmin (PSB), to be the general coordinator of the transitional government; the PT president, Gleisi Hoffmann, for political coordination; and Aloizio Mercadante to be technical coordinator.

From then on, speculation was that one of the three names could continue the power given to them in the transition to also be responsible for running the government in the Civil House. The impression was reinforced by the central role they played during the campaign.

Behind the scenes, the weight that the Bahia PT political group would have in the Executive never left the scenario. For this reason, the leader of the group and Lula’s longtime trusted man, Senator Jaques Wagner (PT-BA), was appointed as a name for the Civil House.

The parliamentarian, with a negotiator profile, took over the leadership of the government in the Senate. And his successor as governor of Bahia, Rui Costa, went to the Civil House. The current head of the Civil House stayed eight years in office and, in 2022, elected the ally Jerônimo Rodrigues, who had never contested an election, to the post.

Despite his power in government, Rui cannot follow the path of other former PT governors in the northeast, such as Camilo Santana (CE) and Wellington Dias (PI), who ended their eight years in office and were elected to the Senate.

The construction of the allied ticket in Bahia provided support for the re-election of Senator Otto Alencar (PSD-BA), leaving the current minister without an elected position. The sacrifice was praised by the PT leadership.

Government members also credit Rui with a large share of Lula’s expressive vote in Bahia: 72%. This reaffirmed the political strength of the group around the Chief Executive.

The capital that Rui accumulates is also related to the new design of the Civil House, today more robust than under the government of the predecessor Jair Bolsonaro (PL). In addition, his right-hand man is Miriam Belchior, former minister of PT administrations, who also exercises power over the Executive and, in particular, over infrastructure programs.

Miriam and the PT won an arm wrestling match with the Minister of Planning, Simone Tebet (MDB), who came out of the presidential elections strengthened by her support for Lula in the second round.

The allied party insisted that Planning had public banks and the PPI (Investment Partnerships Program) in its umbrella. Rui, Miriam and the PT insisted and took on the coordination of the program.

Today, Marcus Cavalcanti, who was Secretary of Infrastructure in Bahia, commands the PPI in Planalto. Other names from the state also went with Rui to Planalto and occupy important posts.

The Administration Secretariat, which used to be under the General Secretariat, is now in the Civil House, with Norberto Queiroz, a retired fiscal auditor from Bahia.

The SAJ (Sub-head of Legal Affairs), responsible for the final word from the legal point of view in normative acts of the government, is with the jurist Wellington César Lima, who was attorney general of the Public Ministry of Bahia.

The Special Secretariat for Articulation and Monitoring, which coordinates Esplanada projects, is under the command of administrator Maurício Muniz, who was Chief Advisor of the Civil House of the Government of Bahia.

As head of the Civil House, Rui insists on demonstrating power over other ministries. He has toured the headquarters of other portfolios to discuss priorities for the management of each body and pass on missions.

It is Rui and Miriam’s team that will define the priorities of the ministries in the 100 days of government.

In addition to the structure, the Casa Civil carries a strong symbolism of command in PT governments. After Dirceu left, Dilma Rousseff took over, who became Lula’s replacement in the presidency — despite the internal resistance she faced.

In Bahia, Rui became known as a politician who avoids ideological clashes and prioritizes the daily conduct of the public machine. In the federal government, he assumed a similar role. The strongest statements against Bolsonaro, for example, are made by Lula or other ministers.