Vice President Hamilton Mourão (PRTB) signaled on Wednesday (27) that Foreign Minister Ernesto Araújo could be changed in the ministerial reform which is expected to take place after the elections for the Presidencies of the House and Senate on Monday (1st).
In an interview with Rádio Bandeirantes, Mourão was asked about the situation of Ernesto, the target of criticism due to difficulties in getting vaccines from India and vaccine supplies from China, a country repeatedly attacked by the chancellor in a virulent manner.
The vice president made a series of remarks that he did not participate in the discussions on the change of minister, but pointed to the chancellor’s departure as a possibility.
“There is no doubt that there are ministers who are undoubtedly put forward for their management capacity and their strategic vision. I don’t need to name names. But the specific case you put [Ernesto Araújo], in matters of external relations, it is something that falls under the responsibility of the president, not? I think, I think, I don’t have a crystal ball for this, and this issue was also not discussed with me, that in the near future, after this issue of the elections of the new presidents of the two chambers of the Congress, there could be a reorganization of the government to take into account the new political makeup that is emerging from this process, ”Mourão said.
“So, maybe, over there, some ministers are exchanged and, among them, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs itself. So, I prefer to wait. Especially because this question has never been discussed with me, and all I can talk about here will be pure speculation, ”he concluded.
Last week there were rumors among Brazilian diplomats that former President Michel Temer could be Ernesto’s replacement, but the arrival of vaccine shipments from India to Brazil seemed, behind the scenes, give the minister a survival.
This week, however, part of the government’s military core went on to say that discomfort with the Chancellor’s figure had reached “the limit” due to its clashes with China at a crucial time in the pandemic and, according to these soldiers, the departure had become inevitable.
Mourão’s statements on Wednesday were interpreted as a way of expressing the sentiment that already dominated part of the military sector and technicians of Itamaraty.
Temer’s name, however, is viewed with skepticism among diplomats. One of the reasons is that the former president’s law firm is involved in the process of installing 5G networks in the country, which would be considered a very big conflict of interest.
In an interview with Rádio Bandeirantes, Mourão also complained about the lack of involvement he had in the decisions of the government of President Jair Bolsonaro (without a party).
“In my opinion, I think the president could use me more to discuss certain issues, so that we can make the most appropriate decisions in the situations that have been experienced. I am always ready to help, I have tried to do so. within the limits set for my performance, but obviously I would like to have a larger participation, ”he said.
The vice-president also criticized the communication of the Planalto Palace, today under the aegis of Minister Fábio Faria.
“Our communication left something to be desired. We did a lot of things and that cannot be disclosed because most of the time we lose in what I call the retail battle,” Mourão said.