After back and forth, relations between the government and the Chamber ended the year “in style”. At least that is the assessment of the government House leader, MP José Guimarães (PT-CE). According to him, the latest conversations between President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva and the Speaker of the House, Hugo Motta (Republicans-PB), took the relationship to “another level”.
“The year 2025 ends with a great political balance and the relationship is back on track,” the leader told reporters. Lula entered the field last week before the start of the parliamentary recess to sort out his relations with Motta. The government managed to approve the second regulation of the consumption tax reform and the 10% reduction in tax benefits.
“We approved practically all the government’s priorities. Only the popular gas deputy and the security PEC failed,” recalled the leader. Asked about expectations regarding the relationship with Motta throughout 2026, an election year, Guimarães preferred not to make predictions.
On a new basis, Motta participated in the choice of the new Minister of Tourism, Gustavo Feliciano, appointed by União Brasil. Guimarães said he hoped Centrão parties with seats in the ministry would bring votes to Congress and defend, at least in part, Lula’s re-election next year.
The deputy said he understands the internal divisions of the parties and considers that about half of the votes in the seats of União Brasil, PP and PSD “are quite good” for governability. “We need to build a base of 257 votes in the House,” said the parliamentarian.
Regarding the open crisis at the base with criticism from the Minister of Institutional Relations, Gleisi Hoffmann, over an alleged government agreement to vote on dosimetry in the Senate, the leader said that what happened was a “communication failure”. “There was no agreement on merit, only on the method. We just need to ensure that the entire PT votes against,” he said.
The deputy said once again that Lula had shown signs that he would veto the project, which would require further articulation in Congress to uphold the president’s decision. “But every day has its agony,” said the leader.
A pre-candidate for the Senate in 2026, Guimarães has not yet decided whether he will remain head of government next year. According to him, the PT wants to elect at least 90 deputies, today there are 76. For the Senate, where the contest promises to be fierce, the party has so far 19 confirmed pre-candidates. Nine PT members are expected to run in state government elections.
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