Allies of the former president () associated the (-SP) with extremism and used his appointment to the General Secretariat of the Presidency to try to wear down the president (PT).
Bolsonaristas recalled the history of militancy and invasions by Boulos’ (Homeless Workers’ Movement) to criticize the choice.
In the assessment of the PL leader in the Chamber, (RJ), Lula indicated the deputy to leave his government more to the left, thinking about the presidential elections.
“It is the president’s responsibility to appoint his ministers. Understanding that Boulos brings more extremism to the government, but it is the option that Lula wants for 2026, an extreme left candidacy,” he said.
The deputy (Novo-SP), former Minister of the Environment in the Bolsonaro government, called Boulos the “king of invasions”.
“The turmoil on January 8th became a flash in the pan with the appointment of the king of invasions as palace minister. Now, the invasion is through the front door, with a red carpet and an official car,” he stated on social media.
In the same vein, São Paulo city councilor Zoe Martinez (PL) said that “all they need to do is create the Ministry of Invasions to close the package of shame.”
Federal deputy Kim Kataguiri (União Brasil-SP) was ironic when he said that the news of the appointment was excellent. “Lula gave us two gifts: first, to place another person to disrupt his government, and second, to remove one of the worst candidates for any position in the state of São Paulo from the elections,” he stated.
The General Secretariat is responsible for the government’s dialogue with social movements and has its office at Palácio do Planalto. With the move to the portfolio, Boulos will give up running for re-election or another position next year, completing the term of the PT federal administration.
The psolist will take over, who had been criticized for his performance at the head of the ministry. According to reports, Macêdo should dedicate himself to the campaign to be elected federal deputy for Sergipe next year and should gain a new position in the government.
The idea of the exchange is to consolidate the left-wing base, aiming for the 2026 elections, in addition to reviving the social base and, above all, youth.
The decision also comes at a time when a wing of the center, which is currently part of Lula’s base, next year. In this scenario, the PT member would try to consolidate the support of the historic left-wing base.
For Boulos, this would be an opportunity to rebuild his political capital, which was weakened in São Paulo. In the view of allies in the government, he will have the chance to resume his upward trajectory. He is seen as one of Lula’s possible political successors.
The deputy counted on the personal commitment of the PT member in the race for Mayor of São Paulo. Lula intervened so that the PT stopped running and supported Boulos’ candidacy, who.
Attacked by Bolsonarists, the nomination for the ministry was celebrated by allies on the left. Representative Bohn Gass (PT-RS) recalled when Lula was arrested and said that Boulos was one of the first to arrive at the Metalworkers Union in São Bernardo (SP).
“Legitimate popular leaders, they respect each other a lot. Today, Boulos becomes Lula’s minister. The government wins. The social movements win. Brazil wins,” he said.
Representative Erika Hilton (PSOL-SP) praised the choice and took advantage of the nomination to ask for a conversation with Lula about the project to end the 6×1 scale.
“This is an indication that is much more than deserved: it is necessary so that social advances are, every day, more central to the public debate. Congratulations, Guilherme Boulos”, he said.
“I would like to take advantage of our friendship to ask that, as soon as you have your ministry’s agenda in hand, you schedule our conversation about the end of the 6×1 scale”, he added.
