At the head of the position since the beginning of the government, Minister Alexandre Silveira (Mines and Energy) has made recent moves to expand his influence in public administration that have not gained support from former allies in the Federal Government. At the same time, he got closer to () to the point of entrusting the president with even defining his political future.
The disagreements between Silveira, who is affiliated with , and parliamentarians had already been observed at the time of , but received new contours in the face of the dispute over regulatory agencies.
Silveira’s plan to place names he trusts in local authorities generated disagreement even with one of his main political allies, (PSD-MG). The president of the Senate finds himself in another position, that of coming up with names that are actually approved by the House — which is the one who, legally, approves the nominees after the hearing.
The climate led to the emergence of rumors about Silveira remaining at the head of the ministry — which is viewed with disbelief by members of the government, due to the closeness he guaranteed with the president.
People close to Silveira minimize the distance from the Senate and claim that he became a target for trying to return it to the government, after the administration of () gave more power to parliamentarians in the process.
In any case, Silveira has been increasing his presence and influence with the President of the Republic in recent months, joining official delegations, being constantly called to meetings and maintaining a direct dialogue channel with the president.
The minister’s allies say that he has enjoyed working for Lula so much that he is satisfied with the possibility of occupying any position chosen by the president, if movement in the government is necessary – although they claim that the topic has never been discussed.
According to this vision, even the role to be played by Silveira in 2026 would be defined by the president. It is still uncertain whether Silveira will contest elections in Minas or follow an alternative path, such as dedicating himself to a possible campaign for Lula’s re-election.
Silveira’s PSD, at the same time as it is part of the Lula government, is chaired by , secretary and ally of the governor of São Paulo, (Republished), also listed for the Planalto in 2026. The party emerged strengthened in this year’s elections when it won across the country (887).
Interlocutors in the government point out that Lula likes Silveira’s combative style — and the minister would be exploiting this characteristic. Initially, for example, he made a point of sending the news to the president about his attacks on the governor of Minas, (Novo), his political rival.
Afterwards, he demonstrated the same impetus in criticizing Prates, whom the president did not like. And, more recently, he gained points with the PT members and, in particular, with Lula, when he entered (MDB), because of the energy problems in the capital of São Paulo.
Also remembered for always taking meat to barbecues promoted by Lula in Alvorada or Granja do Torto, sharing responsibility with the Minister of Agriculture, Carlos Fávaro (PSD), Silveira would have joined one of the poles of strength within the government, in a partnership with the Minister of the Civil House, Rui Costa (PT). More developmental, this partnership contradicts the vision of the economic team at certain times.
Furthermore, the two are side by side, in a direct dispute with the Minister of the Environment, (Rede).
The minister’s interlocutors deny any quarrels with allies and say, for example, that he and Pacheco remain friends and speak practically every week. A person close to the president of the Senate says that the two now have different institutional roles and end up differing on some issues.
In the first semester, the senator from Minas expressed the House’s dissatisfaction with Prates’ frying process – who was a senator in the last legislature. At the time, Silveira countered the criticism by saying he defended the interests of the ministry.
Currently, the core of the disagreement involves nominations for regulatory agencies — the target of influence not only from Pacheco, but also from the senator (União Brasil-AP), favorite to return to the presidency of the Senate from next year.
The Amapá parliamentarian has defended that all open vacancies be decided in a “closed package”, with the Senate obtaining primacy over nominations, as occurred in the Bolsonaro government.
Officially, the senators themselves seek to alleviate the issue, but recognize the interest in influencing the nominations, considering that the legislative House is responsible for examining and approving the names.
Given this scenario, senators and members of the government believe that Silveira has resisted the demands of allies responsible for elevating him to the position of Minister of Mines and Energy.
After much confusion, the government has not ruled out the possibility of changing names for open positions.
Silveira has already sent the nomination of the fifth member of Aneel (National Electric Energy Agency) to Palácio do Planalto. He defends the name of his national secretary of Electric Energy, Gentil Nogueira de Sá, for the position. Alcolumbre, however, is resistant.
In another dispute with the Senate, the government plans to command the ANP (National Agency for Petroleum, Gas and Biofuels), as the Sheet revealed.
The name is seen as a sign of Silveira’s strength within the government, but, again, it enters into a collision course with his former allies in the Senate.
And there is a second vacancy in the ANP up for grabs. But, in this case, members of the government claim that there is consensus to embrace the nomination of senator Otto Alencar (PSD-BA), the attorney for the AGU (Attorney General of the Union), Artur Watt Neto.
Silveira’s actions that pleased Lula
Attacks on Zema
The Minister of Mines and Energy has emphasized Lula’s attacks on the governor of Minas Gerais, Romeu Zema (Novo), his political rival and right-wing exponent for the 2026 election, which has pleased the president
Bate-mouth with Nunes
Silveira was also in conflict with the mayor of São Paulo, Ricardo Nunes (MDB), about the energy problems in the capital of São Paulo and the performance of the concessionaire in the region, Enel, during the municipal election, and gained points with the PT members
Alliance with Rui Costa
Alexandre Silveira also invested in an alliance with the Chief Minister of the Civil House, Rui Costa (PT), with a more developmental vision; both are side by side in defending oil exploration on the equatorial margin
Confidence in the president
Silveira says he is satisfied with working with Lula and has no problems, according to allies, in occupying any other position if a change in the government is necessary
X-RAY | Alexandre Silveira, 54
Minister of Mines and Energy. He is a retired delegate from the Civil Police of Minas Gerais. He was general director of Dnit (between 2004 and 2005), federal deputy, secretary of the government of Minas Gerais and senator. Affiliated to the PSD, Silveira was a substitute for Antônio Anastasia (PSD-MG) and took up the seat in the Senate in 2022, with Anastasia’s resignation to take on the position of minister at the TCU (Federal Audit Court).
