Despite trying to convince him to step down from his role, the leader of the government in , (PT-BA), has reiterated to allies that he does not intend to immediately leave his position, unless there is a request from the president ().
A conversation between the two is expected for Wednesday (24), when the senator is expected to return to Brasília. The expectation is that Lula will ask Wagner to hand over his position if the government leader does not take this initiative before the meeting.
Even though they are in favor of his friend’s removal, Wagner’s allies have suggested an agreement in which he would only hand over the leadership after a visit by Lula to Bahia, scheduled for July 2, and under the justification that the senator needs to dedicate himself to the campaign in the state.
After investigating the case, the assessment within the government was that it would be necessary to shield the president and immediately put an end to this discussion, which interrupted a succession of positive news for Lula.
Emissaries from the PT administration try to convince Wagner that remaining in leadership is what keeps the spotlight on him, which would even make his defense difficult.
A wing of the government already defended the change of Wagner after failures in articulation, such as the defeat of the nomination of the Supreme Federal Court. He also had a bad relationship with the president of the Senate, (-AP).
In this way, allies already defended him claiming the need to focus the campaign to leave the leadership.
According to reports, Lula likes Wagner and does not want to give the impression that he does not trust him, but he was upset by the fact that the senator spoke on his behalf during an interview last week. These statements took the senator’s problem into the Planalto Palace.
Wagner, in turn, has insisted on the argument that his weakening could harm the president’s campaign in Bahia, a key state for his election in 2022.
But Lula’s interlocutors say that the exposure of the case could fuel the speech in defense of (PL), who was caught in conversations with the former banker to obtain resources for a film about the former president (PL).
Members of the senator’s political group say that Wagner has heard opinions in favor of and against his removal from office. Among them, support for the license proposal is gaining strength, as long as the senator does not leave office dejected.
Within the government, the Minister of Institutional Relations, José Guimarães, is one of those who defend this shield against Lula, as he considers it unfair that the president is shaken by the scheme he fought. The strategy would be to keep the case within the borders of Bahia, remembering that there was no government action to favor Master.
The government’s tactic is to highlight that the scandal only came to light thanks to investigations into the Lula government, as well as the liquidation of the bank.
On Thursday (18), after the Federal Police arrested Lula, he called Wagner twice. According to the president’s allies, in both conversations, they were unable to discuss a succession in government leadership due to the senator’s emotional distress.
Ministers state that this gesture of solidarity by the president should not be understood as a guarantee of maintaining his position as leader, but a sign for Wagner to take on his departure as a personal initiative, under the argument that he needs to dedicate himself to his defense.
Still according to these allies, it was Lula who suggested that. But, within the government, the assessment is that they were insufficient.
In the interview with , the government leader in the Senate cited the president’s phone call. “He made a point of calling me, expressing solidarity with me,” he said.
Wagner also said he would continue to lead the government in the Senate until further notice. “The leadership of the government is the responsibility of President Lula, with whom I spoke today, and I find it very difficult for him to change my position due to the relationship we have and the trust he has in me.”
The president’s allies classified the interview as above tone, in addition to involving him in the case.
