Costa Filho denies receiving an invitation from Lula to take over political coordination.
"I never spoke to President Lula about this," he said.
247 - The Minister of Ports and Airports, Silvio Costa Filho (Republicanos-PE), denied having received an invitation to assume command of the Secretariat of Institutional Relations (SRI) and stated that he had not even discussed the matter with President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva (PT). “I never spoke with President Lula about this. I think the government has excellent people who can contribute to this role. We have excellent people within the National Congress,” said the minister, after participating in a ceremony to sign a technical cooperation agreement with Apex Brasil, according to reports. Valor reports.
Costa Filho stated that “every time” he met with the head of the Executive branch, it was to discuss the Brazilian port, airport, and waterway sectors. Just a few days ago, the Minister of Ports and Airports was one of the leading candidates to head the government's political coordination with Congress, with the mission of improving relations with the Centrão political group. However, due to resistance from the party, he is reportedly inclined not to accept the potential invitation.
Lula makes no secret of his positive assessment of the minister from Pernambuco. Last Friday, he even publicly praised the member of the cabinet during a government event. "I am very grateful to President Lula. Gratitude is repaid with gratitude, but above all, with hard work," he said, regarding the president's statements. "In life, we have to strive to work, do good, bring people together, and I think that's what Brazil needs. People are tired of fighting, bickering, confusion, and institutional tension," he added.
Asked if he would accept the invitation to take over SRI in place of Alexandre Padilha (PT), Costa Filho said that this was "speculation," and that he would discuss the matter after Carnival.
