The leader of the government () in , José Guimarães (PT-CE), states that the dismissals of positions linked to deputies who voted against the are a “sepsis” that came late.
“What the government decided, albeit late, but better late than never, is that it is not possible for a party to have ministry A, B, C and not help the government”, he says in an interview with Sheet.
According to Guimarães, the president of the Chamber, (-PB), is in agreement with and sealed a truce with Lula during dinner on Sunday (19).
The leader says that the renegotiation will take effect to approve what he considers urgent by the end of the year: .
After Lula and the Minister of Finance, (PT), publicly criticized Congress, Guimarães states that it is time to “raise the flag of peace”.
How are the tax increases?
We need to create the conditions to vote on the Budget. We have to resolve what has expired. When the MP was published, it was said by parliamentarians that the government was not cutting spending. Let’s take advantage of the project reported by Kiko Celeguim [PT-SP, sobre falsificação de bebidas] to graft cost containment measures onto it.
But the project is for .
We are taking advantage of the project that is about to be voted on [na semana que vem] because we are in a hurry.
With this argument that the government is cutting spending, is it possible to sensitize the opposition?
It’s a good narrative. Let’s work to have the necessary votes to try to remove this dismay from here until we go into recess. For the government to have peace of mind in 2026.
Approving the expense adjustment and the cut in tax incentives, may the third measure, , not be voted on?
I don’t know if it’s possible to vote this year, but a bill will come with constitutional urgency. We need to enforce the framework, so the government has to cut and it has to have revenue.
Even these votes on fiscal issues this year are already contaminated by the electoral environment, right?
I think if we do our homework, we can approve it.
Will the government accept it?
No. It is the Executive’s task, not the Legislature’s, to establish the Budget execution calendar.
The government is voting against the MP. Does this strategy help or just make the climate worse?
As incredible as it may seem, this shock did not worsen the situation. If there is a recomposition, in the terms that President Lula spoke with Motta on Sunday night, listening to bench and government leaders, a renegotiation will be made. We need this renegotiation for the projects that the government needs to approve before the election. What the government decided, albeit late, but better late than never, is that it is not possible for a party to have ministry A, B, C and not help the government.
Mr. Do you think the government should have done this sooner?
Life teaches. It is a maturation process. I, for example, received many congratulations for the government’s decision. There are people who want to vote with the government and have no space. And there are a lot of people who have space and don’t help. This recomposition is healthy and helps coalition presidentialism. Whether it will work or not is an effort we are making. Because there is an emergency: approving the Budget.
Is Motta in agreement with this renegotiation, which dismisses nominees from central parties allied with him?
Motta has an agreement with the government to restore it. Call the leader of the party and make the renegotiation.
Which parties?
All those in the center go to PDT.
Why does Motta have a role in this renegotiation?
Nobody votes on anything unless it is in partnership with the president. Especially because the government does not have an ideological or programmatic majority here. Regardless of the qualities of Congress or not, the government needs Congress.
Does this renegotiation include the possibility of a ministerial reform, with more space for the Republicans, for example?
Lula did not demonstrate this. What existed was a set of participations of these parties in all these bodies, not at the ministry level. Do an asepsis, so to speak, and let’s put it back together now.
Motta said that the government needs to greatly improve its relationship with Congress. How do you see this public criticism of the articulation?
[Hoffmann, ministra de Relações Institucionais] and I have to defend the government. The president of the Chamber has to defend the Legislature. That’s why this renegotiation has to go through him too.
Haddad and not tax justice.
The time is to spread the flag of peace.
So he got the tone wrong.
Then everyone interprets how they want. By the end of the year, we have to vote on fundamental matters. We have to solve a deficit problem, because otherwise we will disrespect the framework law and commit a crime of responsibility. I need a vote here. That’s why there has to be recomposition. There must be, in what is transparently said and agreed, which is the payment of the amendments.
Mr. was consulted when PT aired a program that?
Congress, for the most part, decided things that were very painful for the government. Do you think it was easy that night you defeated IOF? Those decisions by Congress hit our government hard, in the face, as they say in the Northeast. It was natural for the government to react, for the PT to react. Of course there are exaggerations, but this is part of the democratic process.
At the same time they voted to end the IOF, they voted on environmental licensing. Don’t you think that was a shot? It is the shot of strategic defeat for the government. And the government will remain silent? No. It was a reaction to what Congress did. The majority, not all of Congress.
Mr. he spoke about the white flag, but Lula spoke at an event, alongside Motta, who . Mr. Do you agree?
Look, the president has every right to say whatever he wants. I, as the government leader, have to respect the government’s directive.
And roll around afterwards to make things right.
I spoke to Motta about this, some parliamentarians called me. Then the president said he was referring more to the ultra-right. It’s never good to generalize, right?
Did Motta and parliamentarians look for him to complain about the president’s speech?
No, to say “boy, wasn’t that an exaggeration?” But I understand. It’s part of it. So much so that there was no crisis afterwards. I have already met several presidents of this House. They are different styles. Hugo is a very polite person. There’s one thing about Hugo that I appreciate: he’s very humble for the authority he is. That’s why people don’t always understand.
Mr. Did you talk to the president and ask for some gesture?
No. I was in Ceará, there wasn’t even time. I understand that he extended the white flag to Congress when he met with Motta on Sunday night.
How was this meeting?
I was informed by both that it was productive and that it will produce the necessary effects for the approval of the matter of interest to the country.
So is there a truce?
If you call an authority to your house, it’s a big gesture. Lula called the president of the Chamber to dinner at Palácio do Alvorada. It’s stronger than any words. Motta was in Paraíba and returned for this meeting.
You know Lula, Lula loves political disputes. It’s the thing he knows best about. Lula grows in the political dispute. We are full of examples. Congressional decisions. The of [Donald] Trump.
With this renegotiation, do you think that parties in the center will be with Lula?
I defend a broad front for Lula’s re-election. If it depends on me, these parties will be supporting Lula. Whether they will or not is a construction process.
And the governor (Republicans) in the 2026 election?
This one has already gone to space. Because he did all that nonsense. Came for amnesty, tariffs… He broke his face. He is unlikely to be a candidate. I saw research from São Paulo, the capital and metropolitan region, and Lula is already way ahead of him, in his backyard.
JOSÉ GUIMARÃES, 66
Lawyer, he was a state deputy for the PT in Ceará and president of the party in the state. He is serving his fifth consecutive term as federal deputy. He has been a member of the PT since 1985. He is the current leader of the Lula (PT) government in the Chamber of Deputies.
