Lula may resume dialogue with allied parties and unblock ministerial reshuffle.

247 - Back in Brazil after a diplomatic mission to Japan and Vietnam, President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva (PT) is preparing a new round of talks with party leaders and the top brass of the National Congress to try to unlock the long-awaited ministerial reform. The information was published this Monday (1st) by FSP, who listened to parliamentarians and government aides about the president's next steps.

According to the newspaper, Lula's move comes after months of stalled negotiations and should mark a more incisive attempt to reconfigure the Esplanade of Ministries. The gesture is seen by allies as a signal that the president intends to take a leading role in political coordination, fulfilling a long-standing demand from congressmen who are asking for greater direct involvement of the head of the Executive branch in negotiations.

During his trip to Asia, Lula invited key figures from the Legislative branch to join his delegation, such as the Speaker of the House, Hugo Motta (Republicanos-PB), and the President of the Senate, Davi Alcolumbre (União Brasil-AP), as well as leaders of parties like MDB, União Brasil, and PP. Also part of the group were the former Speaker of the House, Arthur Lira (PP-AL), and the former President of the Senate, Rodrigo Pacheco (PSD-MG), both previously considered for ministerial positions in the government.

Despite Pacheco dismissing this possibility in a meeting with Lula on March 15th, and Lira stating that there was no concrete discussion on the matter, sources close to the president do not rule out future strategic appointments, should there be mutual interest. An ally of Lira told Folha that his entry into the government is not ruled out, should an invitation arise for a ministry considered relevant.

Four parliamentarians who accompanied the presidential mission to Asia reported to the newspaper that the initiative to reach out to Congress had a positive impact. They highlighted that, since the beginning of his third term, there has been a clear desire on the part of parliamentarians for more direct dialogue with Lula, especially to resolve political impasses and open space for joint decisions.

According to reports, there is a perception that the president is showing a change in posture. "When we return to Brazil, we will discuss the things we need to discuss," Lula stated during an interview in Japan, justifying the absence of political discussions during the trip. "I wouldn't be crazy enough to discuss the matter during the trip," he added.

The expectation is that, in the coming days, Lula will meet individually with Motta and Alcolumbre to discuss possible ministerial changes. The conversations should also include the presidents of parties with representatives in the government, such as Gilberto Kassab (PSD) and Marcos Pereira (Republicanos), both with recent histories of criticism of the Workers' Party administration.

Among the parties that are part of the allied base, but which are considering distancing themselves with a view to the 2026 elections, are União Brasil, PSD, and Republicanos. These three parties together hold seven ministries and have already expressed dissatisfaction with their positions in the government. In the case of PP, Fufuca's party (Ministry of Sports), there are even sectors that are considering leaving the government.

Even in the face of declining government popularity, Lula has already made three changes to his top-level cabinet in 2025: Sidônio Palmeira took over the Secretariat of Social Communication, replacing Paulo Pimenta; Gleisi Hoffmann became the Secretary of Institutional Relations, replacing Alexandre Padilha, who in turn was moved to the Ministry of Health, replacing Nísia Trindade.

Despite the uncertainties, Lula's new offensive with Congress is seen as an effort to rebuild bridges and reduce tensions accumulated during the first two years of his term. A new cycle of more frequent dialogue could not only facilitate ministerial reform but also improve the political environment for votes of interest to the Presidential Palace throughout 2025.