Brazil’s vice-president-elect, Geraldo Alckmin, confirmed on Tuesday that Senator Simone Tebet will lead the social area in the transition period, which could confirm her presence at the head of a portfolio in this area, such as Citizenship, in charge of important social programs, in the next government of Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva.
«Simone is one of the great leaders of our country. She will help us in a very important group. We have two great challenges, one economic and the other social», which, according to Alckmin, are not two areas in dispute, but «complementary».
«Simone, with her experience and sensitivity, the strength of a woman, will work with us in the area of social development», confirmed Lula’s ‘number two’ after meeting with her in Brasilia, reports ‘O Globo’.
Alckmin’s statement thus comes ahead of the final decision of Tebet’s party, the Brazilian Democratic Movement (MDB), on her presence in Lula’s new government. Its leader, Luiz Baleia Rossi, conditioned any participation of the acronym in the next executive to a previous consultation.
Although the decision for Tebet to play a prominent role during this transition period may be seen as a step prior to her presence in Lula’s government, Alckmin has qualified that although she has «enough expertise, experience and public spirit» to be a minister, it is still too early to talk about it.
Tebet was also present at this appearance before the media after their meeting in a hotel in the Brazilian capital and remarked that they will continue working to achieve «the great objective» of the project that was imposed at the polls, which is none other than to carry out social policies, such as the fight against hunger, the creation of employment and the improvement of health and education.
In recent days, the possibility that Tebet may end up heading the Ministry of Citizenship, which in Lula’s government would be renamed the Ministry of Social Development, has gained momentum. This portfolio now manages important programs such as Auxilio Brasil, or registers low-income families in order to distribute aid.
Although his name has been mentioned for other portfolios such as Environment, Agriculture or Women, none of them are in his plans. On the other hand, sources close to Lula da Silva maintain that it is in Tebet’s hands to be a minister in the new government and that she will be free to choose her position.
