President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva (PT) swore in, this Tuesday (23), Gustavo Damião Feliciano (União-PB) as the new Minister of Tourism, replacing federal deputy Celso Sabino, following a request from the União Brasil party.
Also participating in the inauguration event at Palácio do Planalto were the president of the Chamber of Deputies, Hugo Motta (Republicanos-PB), minister Gleisi Hoffmann and vice-president Geraldo Alckmin.
In his inauguration speech, the new minister highlighted that tourism also needs to have a social character and “be of the people, by the people and for the people”, promoting events that generate jobs and improve income.
Continues after advertising
“People already work hard and tourism cannot just be for the rich, it has to be for everyone. If there is one way to say that Brazil has advanced, it is to see people traveling with their families”, he stated. “Happiness and joy cannot be a question of social class, they have to be a symbol of social justice.”
replaces Sabino in the portfolio after the former minister was expelled from União Brasil for remaining head of the department despite the party’s ultimatum to leave the government after the breakdown of relations.
A political ally and personal friend of the president of the Chamber, Hugo Motta (Republicanos-PB), Feliciano’s choice symbolizes both a rapprochement between the government and União Brasil and a nod to Motta, with whom Lula has had friction during the processing of projects of interest to the government.
At this Tuesday’s ceremony, Motta praised Lula’s choice to appoint Feliciano as the new minister and highlighted that, despite the constant conflict between Congress and the government, 2025 was a year of important approvals for the Brazilian people.
“We did not have an easy year. It was full of many challenges, of clashes, but a year in which Congress did not fail your government [Lula]. We had important approvals that give you the certainty that the government ends the year much better than it started”, said Motta.
