The government leader in the Chamber, deputy José Guimarães (PT-CE), said that President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva (PT) asked the Minister of Institutional Relations, Gleisi Hoffmann, to “speed up and stir the hornet’s nest of Caixa Econômica Federal”. The context of the request is the lack of support provided to the government by the Centrão parties that made appointments to senior positions at the state-owned company.
“Gleisi said she’s going to put the knife in,” said Guimarães on the podcast “As Cunhãs”. “I was in the meeting with her and Lula, and he said: Gleisi, you hurry up and stir up the Caixa Econômica hornet’s nest to get started.”
Caixa’s president, Carlos Antônio Vieira Fernandes, was appointed by the president of the Chamber of Deputies, Arthur Lira (PP-AL). “The guy is competent, Lula likes him, but…”, said the deputy.
Continues after advertising
Guimarães stated that all nine vice-presidencies of Caixa and state superintendencies were filled through political appointments. “Each vice-presidency has extraordinary power”, he assessed. According to the deputy, PL (party of former president Jair Bolsonaro), Republicans (of governor of São Paulo Tarcísio de Freitas), PDT, Rede and Podemos have one vice-presidency each. “There is one that Lula won’t let me take away that is his, which is Inês (Magalhães), from Minha Casa Minha Vida”, he reported.
“Minister Gleisi told me in clear words: I’m not going to argue, I’m going to do it. I already have news that she ordered it removed; I’ve already received phone calls”, said the deputy.
Elections
Guimarães said he sees a “new phase” with an increase in Lula’s approval rating, which reached 48% according to the Genial/Quaest survey released last week. “I think it will be a new phase. The government, in my opinion, doesn’t have to invent much to go to Congress; little to avoid problems. Vote on the budget, three important projects, and turn on the 2026 elections mode”, he assessed.
The deputy complained about the lack of support for the IOF Provisional Measure (MP), overturned by Congress last week. “They do this just to hinder Lula,” he said. “Lula has said, I want to see these people ask me for support in the campaign.”
In the parliamentarian’s assessment, recent episodes caused Lula to “skyrocket” in the voting intention polls and now the president has “hit his stride”. “He will no longer quibble; Congress voted, he vetoes. Let them overturn the veto”, he stated.
