Ministerial meeting saw ministers reprimanded and resignation announced

President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva (PT) held this Wednesday (17/12) the last ministerial meeting of the year, at the Official Residence of Granja do Torto, in Brasilia. The meeting brought together ministers, heads of government and directors of public banks to take stock of the main results of the management and discuss the next steps for 2026. There was no shortage of ear-tugging, warnings and demands for more commitment and attention from the minister during the election year that could give the PT member a fourth term.

From the opening, Lula directly blamed his colleagues for the government’s communication failures and the difficulty in making the population aware of its actions. According to the president, the administration has not yet found “the correct narrative” to present its results to society, especially on the eve of an election year that it has described as a “year of truth.”

“We need to let people know what happened in this country. I feel like people still don’t know. I feel like we don’t have the correct narrative yet for people to know how to evaluate what happened in this country,” he said.

The PT deputy also demanded that ministers stop speaking as if they were outside observers of the administration and start positioning themselves as part of the government. “Sometimes I wonder when you say: ‘Because in President Lula’s government’. That gives the impression that you are not the government. In other words, you have been with me all this time, so the government is not President Lula’s, the government is ours,” he stressed.

He also stressed that communication cannot be done “for themselves”, but for an audience who needs to understand the messages transmitted.

Ministerial transition and 2026 elections

Lula addressed the planned transition in ministries occupied by aides expected to run in the 2026 elections. Bluntly, he said he hoped those who intend to run will succeed in the elections. “Please win the position you are going to run for, don’t lose it,” he asked.

The president also warned that in the next elections, the parties that make up the government will have to clearly indicate which side they will be on. The statement comes against a backdrop of deteriorating relations with Centrão acronyms, such as União Brasil and PP, which broke with Planalto in recent months and announced the official departure of the PT administration.

Although he has not yet officially confirmed his candidacy for re-election, Lula has indicated that he could run for office in 2026, if he maintains his current physical and mental state. He said political polarization had harmed the government’s evaluation surveys, even though the third year of his mandate ended in a “generally favorable situation.”

4 picturesClose the modal.1 of 4

President Lula is bringing together ministers this morning to take stock of the year and align strategies with an emphasis on 2026. The meeting takes place at the Official Residence of Granja do Torto.

KEBEC NOGUEIRA/METROPOLES @kebecfotografo2 of 4

President Lula meets ministers this morning in Brasilia

Photos: KEBEC NOGUEIRA/METRÓPOLES @kebecfotografo3 of 4

Lula meets ministers at Granja do Torto, Brasilia

KEBEC NOGUEIRA/METROPOLES @kebecfotografo4 out of 4

Lula meets ministers at Granja do Torto, Brasilia

KEBEC NOGUEIRA/METROPOLES @kebecfotografo

Resignation of Celso Sabino

As shown in MetropolisesAt the end of the meeting, the president announced the departure of Celso Sabino (without party) from the Ministry of Tourism. União Brasil, the minister’s former party, requested his dismissal and named Gustavo Feliciano, son of federal deputy Damião Feliciano (União-PB), to take over.

In December, União Brasil decided to expel the minister after he contradicted the party’s decision to break with the government and stay in power.

At the time, Sabino even handed in his letter of resignation, but managed to keep the chair until the United Nations Conference on Climate Change (COP30), which was held in Belém (PA), the minister’s political hometown.

Privately, the party denies making the application and nomination for the vacant position, claiming that Gustavo is not a member of the party. The party leadership rejects that the naming of the name is a party move, indicating that the agreement reached with the president has the support of only one wing of the party.

The change in leadership of the department was seen as a nod to House Speaker Hugo Motta (Republicanos-PB).

Relationship with Congress

Amid recent tensions between the executive and legislative branches, Lula adopted a conciliatory tone when speaking about the National Congress. He said he had good relations with the Speaker of the House and the President of the Senate, Davi Alcolumbre (União-AP), and said he was ready to speak to “smooth the edges.”

“I am a friend of Hugo Motta, (Arthur) Lira, (Rodrigo) Pacheco, Alcolumbre. I am grateful for what they have done during these three years. And, when a disagreement arises, it is important for us to remember that it is necessary to talk more, to iron out the rough edges, and I am ready to do that, because we are grateful for everything that has been approved so far,” the president stressed.

In the Senate, Alcolumbre was unhappy with the appointment of Minister Jorge Messias to the Supreme Federal Court (STF), while in the House there was some attrition after the advancement of the dosimetry bill, which reduces the sentences of those convicted of coup plotting.

Regarding Messias’ nomination, the President asked the ministers to contact allied senators to seek their support for the approval of the Union Attorney General’s name during the Senate hearing.

Ministry of Public Security

During the meeting, the President also announced his intention to create the Ministry of Public Security as soon as the National Congress approves the PEC that addresses this issue, which is currently being processed slowly in Parliament.
According to the president, the creation of the new department should only take place in 2026, the year of the presidential election, when public security tends to take up even more space in the political debate.
Currently, the area of public security falls under the Ministry of Justice, headed by Ricardo Lewandowski, which will require the dismemberment of the department to allow the creation of the new ministry.
During the meeting, Lula asked the economic team to find space in the budget to finance the new administrative structure.
According to the president, the current volume of resources allocated to the region is insufficient. “It is not with the rotten money we have today that we are going to create the Ministry of Public Security. Public security is money, to invest in more soldiers and intelligence,” he declared.

Foreign policy: Mercosur, United States and Venezuela

On the international level, Lula declared that he made himself available to the President of the United States, Donald Trump, to assist him in possible peace negotiations between the United States and Venezuela. According to the PT member, Brazil can make its contribution provided there is a desire for dialogue.

At the end of the meeting, Lula once again insisted on the signing of the trade agreement between Mercosur and the European Union (EU). He said that if the treaty is not signed at the Mercosur Summit, scheduled for Saturday (20/12), in Foz do Iguaçu (PR), Brazil will not resume negotiations as long as it holds the presidency.

The Brazilian government hopes to reach a deal negotiated 26 years ago, despite resistance from countries like France and Italy, which fear negative impacts on their agricultural sectors.

This week, the European Parliament approved safeguard measures that could suspend tariff benefits granted to Mercosur, thus reinforcing uncertainties surrounding the conclusion of the treaty.