President Luiz Inácio da Silva () indicated to allies that he resigned from (Council for Sustainable Economic and Social Development), Olavo Noleto, as Minister of Institutional Relations. The PT member’s movement, detected by government supporters in recent days, came after Congress leaders expressed reservations about Noleto’s choice.
Olavo Noleto has held several positions in PT administrations, but has never held an elected mandate — such as deputy or senator. Lula is now looking for a more experienced coordinator to replace the current minister, who will leave her position in the next few days to run for a seat in the Senate.
A Sheet found that so far there are two names considered for the position: the senator (PSD-BA) and the minister Wellington Dias (Social Development). In both cases, however, there would be obstacles.
Alencar is president of the CCJ (Constitution and Justice Commission), one of the most powerful in the Senate, and would need to leave his post. Furthermore, he knows more senators than deputies – and the government’s main political articulation problems are in the Chamber.
Questioned by the report, the senator, who is recovering from heart surgery, denied that there are any negotiations for him to take over the government’s Ministry of Institutional Relations. “I’m recovering from surgery, and there are people who want to put me in a place that kills the person in my heart,” he declared.
Wellington Dias, in turn, currently heads the department that manages the main social programs, one of the federal government’s key points. In addition, he has a political profile of conciliation, while the position of government coordinator requires, at certain times, to liaise with deputies and senators.
The Minister of Social Development did not respond to the report’s attempt to contact him.
Congressmen expressed concern to Planalto about the possibility of Noleto taking over the SRI because whoever occupies the position needs to be able to convince the President of the Republic to honor agreements reached during the voting on projects.
Furthermore, there is concern about paying for amendments. There was an agreement between the Executive and Legislative branches so that the release of resources could be accelerated until June, with a view to the election. Amendments are fractions of the public budget whose fates are decided by deputies and senators.
Payments are coordinated by the Ministry of Institutional Relations. Compliance with this agreement will be easier, according to sources heard by the Sheetif the next head of the political articulation is able to resolve any obstacles with the heads of other departments, who actually pay the amounts.
The issue is sensitive because deputies and senators want the resources they promised mayors to arrive before the election, in order to strengthen their candidacies for re-election or other positions.
The fact that Noleto is close to the current Minister of Health and former Minister of Institutional Relations was also mentioned in the report. He had difficulties dealing with the center, especially with the then president of the Chamber, (PP-AL). The attrition could be revived with the appointment of Noleto.
Furthermore, Lula still has important projects being discussed in Congress before the end of his term. An example is the PEC (proposed amendment to the Constitution) which changes the functioning of the public security system. Also the veto to reduce sentences for those involved in the attacks on the headquarters of Power on January 8, 2023 – the proposal would benefit the former president (PL).
