Rousseff confirms Lula as new Chief-of-Staff

President Dilma Rousseff confirmed early this afternoon that former President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva is to take office as Chief-of-Staff in place of Jaques Wagner, who should henceforth head the president's personal office.

Government leaders in the lower house regard the appointment of the two-time president as a major leap away from the political and economic crisis facing the country. For members of  opposition parties, however, the decision represents a maneuver aimed at granting the former head of state the privilege of only being tried by the Supreme Court, and shows how much power has slipped away from the hands of President Rousseff, who allegedly gave up ruling the country.

Backed by allies

In the view of Afonso Florence, PT's (Workers' Party) lower house leader, the nomination of Lula, who is known for his skills as a negotiator, should invigorate the government.

“President Lula is becoming Chief-of-Staff to help the country out of the crisis. He's come exactly when Brazil needed it,” Florence said. “He's the most successful president in the country's history, with an approval ratings of 87%, and decides to become Chief-of-Staff with the political and administrative purpose of contributing to Brazil's departure from its political and economic crisis.”

President Dilma Rousseff made the decision of appointing Lula as Chief-of-Staff after a long talks with the ex-president. On Tuesday (Mar. 15), the meeting between the two lasted for over four hours, but the ultimate decision was not made until a new meeting was held, on Wednesday morning (Mar. 16).

Florence also dismissed claims that, once a cabinet member, Lula would be able to interfere in the investigations conducted under Operation Car Wash. “The ministerial immunity has never been and will never be an obstacle for the probes,” he said. He further pointed out that both Lula and Rousseff are known for having given much importance and autonomy to law enforcement agencies, like the Prosecutor-General's Office.

In the opinion of Silvio Costa, the government's second-in-command, Lula should fulfill an important role as negotiator alongside the government's coalition in Congress, which would entail bringing Rousseff's impeachment proceedings to a halt.

Costa argued that the criticism from the opposition has not taken the country's economic situation into account. “The opposition is irresponsibly saying that the president [Lula] accepted the nomination because of the ministerial immunity. If President Lula had been concerned about  immunity, he'd have occupied the position last year,” Costa added.

Last year, vice-President Michel Temer had taken up the role as Rousseff's political negotiator.

According to the deputy, Rousseff placed the country's interests above “possible vanities.” “The president took action appropriately, showed genuine concern for the country, and President Lula taught a valuable lesson on commitment with the Brazilian people.”

Questioned by the opposition

In the judgment of the opposition, however, Lula's nomination as Chief-of-Staff aims exclusively at granting Lula protection from the probes under Operation Car Wash. As soon as the move was confirmed, leaders from the major opposition parties told journalists they regard the decision as a mere attempt at putting off investigations into allegations against Lula at the Federal Court in Curitiba, since his case would move up to the Supreme Court after he became a cabinet member.

On Tuesday (15), opposition parties filed a citizen suit with the Federal Court of the Federal District in an attempt to have Lula's possible appointment as minister nullified. They also pledged to lodge a request at federal justice courts in all 26 states.

Rubens Bueno, Popular Socialit Party's (PPS) leader in the Chamber of Deputies, described the appointment as a maneuver.

“It's clearly an attempt to obstruct investigations, which are trying to push Lula to answer what he's never answered regarding the apartments, the ranch, and the millions he received for the Lula Institute,” he stated.

He went on to state that the move weakens the president, who seems to be giving up the government.

“She's saying she doesn't want to rule any longer, because there's no more support, no more foundation. So she's in her last breath surrendering the government, in a bid to tell the country she doesn't rule anymore, but that Lula is going to try in the last minute to lead the government out of the delicate situation it finds itself in,” he added.

Democrats' (DEM) leader Pauderney Avelino, in turn, argues that, despite the nomination of such a strong name as Lula's, the government has little condition to reverse the crisis. He believes deputies will be pressed by the “voice of the streets” into voting for the president's ouster.

“Former President Lula, now one of Rousseff's cabinet members, has very little room for a maneuver,” he said, because “there's a survival instinct in every democratically elected deputy, and the people out on the street have sent a fairly clear message.”

*Further reporting by Ana Cristina Campos

Translated by Fabrício Ferreira