Congressman turns down ministry post, embarrasses government and exposes lula's fragile support base

Congressman turns down ministry post, embarrasses government and exposes lula's fragile support base

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Twelve days after being announced as the new minister in Lula’s (PT) government, federal congressman Pedro Lucas Fernandes (União Brasil) confirmed he is turning down the role as Minister of


Communications. The decision causes public embarrassment for the government, which is now threatening to reconsider União Brasil’s share of positions in the Esplanade of Ministries, and it


highlights the weaknesses in Lula’s support base. "My apologies to President Lula for not being able to accept the invitation. I receive his gesture with gratitude and reaffirm my


commitment to institutional dialogue, always in favor of Brazil," said the congressman in the statement where he announced he would remain as leader of his party in the Chamber. Pedro


Lucas had been named to replace Juscelino Filho, after his party colleague was indicted by the Attorney General’s Office on charges of passive corruption. The announcement was made by


Minister Gleisi Hoffmann (Secretariat for Institutional Relations) after a meeting with Lula, Senate President Davi Alcolumbre (União Brasil), and Juscelino Filho himself. Read the article


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