Progressistas (PP) announced this Wednesday (8) the removal of the Minister of Sports, André Fufuca, from the national vice-presidency of the party and from all internal deliberations of the party.
The decision was communicated through a note signed by the national president of the PP, senator Ciro Nogueira (PI), and includes an intervention in the state directory of Maranhão, removing Fufuca from command of the party in the state.
The measure comes after the minister ignored the ultimatum given by the party leadership to leave the government of President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva (PT). Initially, the deadline for departure was 30 days, set at the beginning of September, and was extended until last Sunday (5). Even so, Fufuca maintained her position of remaining on the Esplanada.
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Public support for Lula
Two days after the deadline, Fufuca participated in an event alongside Lula in Imperatriz (MA), where he made a symbolic gesture of breaking with the party leadership.
“In 2022, I made a mistake, but now, in 2026, my body may be tied up, but my soul, my heart and my willpower will be free to fight and help Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva become president of Brazil”, declared the minister during the housing delivery ceremony for the Minha Casa, Minha Vida program.
The speech was interpreted as a direct challenge to Ciro Nogueira’s leadership and the PP’s decision to formally break with the federal government. Since the beginning of September, the party had been pressuring its members to hand over their positions and break with the Planalto Palace, alleging a lack of ideological alignment.
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Government reaction
In an interview with TV Lookoutfrom Maranhão, shown on Tuesday (7), President Lula classified as “wrong” the decisions of the PP and União Brasil — which form a party federation — to demand the removal of ministers.
“I think it’s a mistake, nonsense. Fufuca and Celso Sabino are deputies, they have a mandate and they know what to decide”, said the president, also referring to the Minister of Tourism.
Lula’s gesture was interpreted as a move to keep Centrão’s strategic allies in the government and prevent the breakup of the acronyms from turning into a larger political crisis on the eve of important economic votes in Congress.
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Official party note
In the note released this Wednesday, Progressistas stated that Fufuca “disobeyed the guidance of the National Executive” and, therefore, is removed from all party decisions, including the national vice-presidency.
The text adds that the party leadership “will carry out an intervention in the Maranhão directory, removing the minister from command of the party in the state” and reiterates that the party “is not and will not be part of the current government, with which it does not have any ideological or programmatic identification”.
Key parts in the joint
The impasse involving Fufuca occurs amid similar pressure on the Minister of Tourism, Celso Sabino (União Brasil-PA), who is also resisting his party’s determination to leave the government.
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Both have consolidated themselves as essential pieces in Lula’s strategy to contain the emptying of the Centrão and maintain bridges with groups that, although officially outside the base, continue to guarantee decisive votes for the Planalto Palace on economic and budgetary issues.
