Report published this Sunday (10) by the newspaper The State of São Paulo points out that President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva (PT) would be thinking about making more moves in search of greater contact with the evangelical public.
Among the measures, according to Estadão, would be the possibility of handing over a ministry in a future ministerial reform. Among the names listed, says the newspaper, would be those of senator Eliziane Gama (PSD-MA) and federal deputy Benedita da Silva (PT-RJ).
The choice of one of the evangelical parliamentarians, in addition to seeking to please this audience, would also make a nod to the female audience.
One of the ministries that would be in the crosshairs is Social Development, which houses the Bolsa Família program, a showcase of the Lula government. The current occupant of the portfolio is Wellington Dias, a PT member who is a former governor of Piauí and a licensed senator.
In Lula’s first term, current deputy Benedita da Silva held the position of Minister of Social Assistance and Promotion.
Lula has been trying to get closer to the evangelical public
In recent times, the Lula (PT) government has tried, more than once, to make gestures that seek rapprochement with evangelicals.
Last month, for example, the President of the Republic brought together some representatives of the segment at Palácio do Planalto for an event in which he sanctioned the bill that establishes the “National Gospel Music Day”, to be celebrated annually on June 9th.
Among those present were representatives of evangelical churches and political figures, such as deputies Otoni de Paula (MDB-RJ) and Benedita da Silva (PT-RJ).
However, evangelical leaders such as deputies Marco Feliciano (PL-SP) and Sóstenes Cavalcante (PL-RJ) were skeptical about the impact of these initiatives. At the time, Feliciano declared that, despite the efforts, “the majority of the evangelical community remains distant from the ideologies of the Workers’ Party (PT).”
